McGuinty comes bearing gifts

[MsMe]

Premier Dalton McGuinty will be in town Wednesday to announce millions of dollars in funding for the Stoney Creek skilled trades centre run by Mohawk College.
The morning announcement will be part of a daylong visit to the city by McGuinty, which will also include a cabinet meeting at McMaster University and a roundtable meeting with business leaders at the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce.
The funding for the Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Research, Resources and Training Institute (STARRT) follows $61.5 million the province gave in July to George Brown College in Toronto for new campuses and $35 million in June to Algonquin College in Ottawa to build a centre for construction trades.
“It’s absolutely outstanding,” college president MaryLynn West-Moynes said today. “It’s definitely a sign that this government is supportive of skilled trades and training. It’s great news for Mohawk.”
She declined to reveal the amount, but STARRT has been estimated to cost $32 million. Mohawk has about 10,000 students and 3,000 apprentices, but hopes STARRT can boost this to 12,000 students and 4,000 apprentices.
Local Liberal MPPs were tight-lipped about details, but MPP Sophia Aggelonitis called it “fantastic.” Liberals said spending the day in Hamilton has nothing to do with bolstering Liberal fortunes in the Hamilton area, nearly a year after the election saw the party lose two seats in Hamilton.
The cabinet will meet at 10:30 a.m. in the university’s council chambers.
McGuinty graduated from McMaster with a bachelor of science (biology) degree in 1978.
“One of the big criticisms we sometimes hear from folk in different parts of the province is that we are too Toronto-centric,” said Government Services Minister Ted McMeekin. “As important as Toronto is, the whole province is important.”
McMaster spokesperson Andrea Farquhar does not expect the visit to bring president Peter George extra face-time with ministers, but said it is good for the university.
“Anytime you are able to raise the profile of the institution is a good thing,” she said.

dnolan@thespec.com
905-526-3351
—with files from Rob Faulkner


http://www.thespec.com/News/article/421015

[SteelTown]

Sounds good. In my opinion Premier Dalton has been a great Premier for Hamilton.

[DC83]

^^ He's the Golden Horesehoe's Premier.
But don't be mentioning his name up north :s

[MsMe]

In the south here is where most of the population is. So that's where he is going to cater to more. Since this is where the money and votes are.

[DC83]

...

[raisethehammer]

wow...so our premier is in town for the day and gets to meet with the Chamber of Commerce to see what needs we have in the Hammer.
And boy, they didn't disappoint, as always.
They spend all the time talking about the airport lands and Mid-Pen highway to hell.
unreal.
Can we please change their name to the Hamilton &District Buffet Eaters or something more appropriate??
The future lies downtown and on the waterfront, not the friggin Mid Pen for Walmart. geez.

[DC83]

^^ I can't believe the HCOC's 'top priority' was/is the Mid-Pen Highway!?!

It seems like Dalton is not a fan of it saying it could still take up to 8 more years or debate to get anything going, so lets hope it never happens.

You want a link to the Airport? You got one! It's called the Hwy6 Extension and it connects to Hwy403 which connects DIRECTLY to Toronto & Niagara via our two newest city Expressways! Wasn't that the reason for the RHVP in the 1st place?

[DC83]

a surprising Spec.com poll today re: this meeting:

The provincial cabinet met in Hamilton Wednesday and was scheduled to meet with local business leaders. If you were involved in these discussions, what would you name as the city's priority?

Downtown (58.94 %)
Waterfront (10.21 %)
Airport (13.19 %)
Transit (17.02 %)

I'm assuming we were the only ones voting? haha