Brampton, Milton welcome news of university expansion
GTA communities to be home to new post-secondary facilities as part of province's $180 million expansion plan.

thestar.com
By Peter Criscione
Oct. 26, 2016

It’s the best news Brampton and Milton have received in years.

Flanked by Brampton Mayor Linda Jeffrey, local MPPs and other dignitaries, Finance Minister Charles Sousa announced plans for a new university facility in Brampton on Wednesday.

“After careful consideration we’ve decided to proceed with calls for proposals for two new post-secondary facilities and today I am delighted to announce that Brampton will be one of those sites,” said Sousa from a podium set up in the conservatory of the new city hall.

Meanwhile, across Highway 401, Deputy Premier Deb Matthews was making a similar announcement in Milton.

“A university is coming to Milton,” she said to cheers at Milton Town Hall.

In January, the province will launch calls for proposals for the new sites focused on science, technology, engineering, arts and math as part of its $180 million investment in the new facilities.

“Creating this facility will help the citizens of Brampton access top-notch post-secondary education close to home and will help them develop the skills they need for the jobs of today and tomorrow,” said Sousa.

Jeffrey, who campaigned on landing a university for Brampton, called Wednesday’s announcement “historic.”

“This announcement has the power to transform our city and help prepare our students for the challenges society will face in the future,” she said, calling it “a new chapter for the city.”

Jeffrey also extended thanks to former Ontario premier Bill Davis. Upon her 2014 election win, she named Davis head of a Blue Ribbon Panel and tasked community leaders to mount a serious bid for a post-secondary institution.

“We’re very pleased with the province’s recognition of the strong case Brampton has made for establishing a new university here,” Davis said.

The province had initially signaled that only one facility would be approved in the government’s second wave of post-secondary plans, and that Milton and Brampton would have to fight for that spot.

In May 2015, the province announced the creation of a York University campus in Markham in partnership with Seneca College.

Wilfrid Laurier University has been working with Milton for more than eight years to develop plans for a local campus and indicated in a statement Wednesday it will continue to pursue a campus.