Provincial budget emphasizes new funding for new spaces

TORONTO, March 29, 2011 – York University President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri supports the Ontario government for its commitment to fund new spaces in this year’s Ontario budget. 

In presenting his 2011 provincial budget, Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan announced the government will provide funding for 60,000 new spaces for the post-secondary education sector.

“York University is pleased that the provincial government has committed to funding 60,000 new spaces over the next five years for students seeking a post-secondary education,” says Mamdouh Shoukri, President and Vice-Chancellor of York University. “We are looking forward to continuing to work with this government to accommodate the demand for a university education, and contribute to Ontario’s growing knowledge-based economy.”

In these challenging economic times of constraint, York University supports the government’s commitment to post-secondary education and its forward looking strategy that will help to stimulate growth within the sector, create jobs and build the economy.

“The value of this kind of commitment is seen first-hand at universities, colleges and other post-secondary institutions across Ontario,” continued President Shoukri. “This support will allow York to continue in its efforts to become a more comprehensive University, meeting the needs of Ontarians in the Greater Toronto Area.”

York University will continue to respond to the needs of our student, academic and research community who can trace their roots to more than 155 countries worldwide. This continued support from the Ontario government enables York University to build on our uniqueness as the most diverse University in Canada.

York University is a leading interdisciplinary research and teaching university in Canada. York offers a modern, academic experience at the undergraduate and graduate level in Toronto, Canada’s most international city. The third largest university in the country, York is host to a dynamic academic community of 50,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff, as well as 200,000 alumni worldwide. York’s 10 Faculties and 28 research centres conduct ambitious, groundbreaking research that is interdisciplinary, cutting across traditional academic boundaries. This distinctive and collaborative approach is preparing students for the future and bringing fresh insights and solutions to real-world challenges. York University is an autonomous, not-for-profit corporation.

 Contact:

Wallace Pidgeon, Media Relations, York University, 416 736 2100 x22091 wpidgeon@yorku.ca