For Immediate Release
May 12, 2005

YORK UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT PRAISES McGUINTY GOVERNMENT'S 2005 BUDGET
$6.2 Billion Investment in Postsecondary education

TORONTO -The government's $6.2-billion investment in post-secondary education and training is key to building a stronger Ontario, said Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty.

"Ontario will only reach its goals if we choose the right course. Investing in the education and skills of our people is the right course for our society, for our economy, for our families and our future," said Premier McGuinty

Under Reaching Higher: The McGuinty Government Plan for Post-secondary Education , the government will invest $6.2 billion more in postsecondary education and training between now and 2009-10.

The announcement will benefit low and middle-income families by increasing financial aid to students, increase enrollment in post-secondary education, raise the number of medial education spaces and boost the number of apprenticeship placements. More than $282 million will be invested into university operating grants for 2005-06 and $19 million will be allocated for the growth of graduate enrollment.

"We are committed to working with universities and colleges, like York University, to ensure greater access for students and a higher quality of postsecondary education," said Mario Sergio, M.P.P.

York University President, Dr. Lorna Marsden endorses the McGuinty budget and quickly praises the leaps forward the province is making by giving prospective students greater accessibility to post-secondary education.

"We applaud the Ontario government's commitment to increasing accessibility to post-secondary education for all students, regardless of their financial situation. We acclaim their call to raise the quality of university education, with emphasis on providing the best possible experience for our students." Dr. Lorna Marsden, President of York University said.

For more information, contact:

Mario Sergio, M.P.P.
York West
Queen's Park

The Budget contains no new taxes and projects a balanced budget by no later than 2008-09- a year earlier if the reserve is not required. The 2004-05 deficit has been reduced by almost half of what we inherited from the previous government to $3 billion.

The McGuinty government is making significant investments in the priority areas of post-secondary education, health care and a strong economy:

Post-Secondary Education

Under Reaching Higher: The McGuinty Government Plan for Postsecondary Education , $6.2 billion more will be spent on postsecondary education and training between now and 2009-10.

The highlights of the most significant financial injection into post-secondary education in 40 years include:

• Increasing financial aid for 135,000 low- and middle-income students this year;
• Significantly increasing the number of college and university students enrolled in postsecondary education;
• Expanding medical education spaces by 15 per cent; and
• Increasing the number of new apprentices by more than 26,000 annually by 2007-08.