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
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—with files from Rob Faulkner
http://www.thespec.com/News/article/421015