Critics slam Premier Doug Ford for ‘ribbon-cutting’ at private Vaughan university

Official opening of Niagara University attended by Ford, Vaughan-Woodbridge MPP Michael Tibollo and Education Minister Stephen Lecce, who is the MPP for Vaughan-King

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 17, 2019
Dina Al-Shibeeb

The official ribbon-cutting ceremony of Niagara University in Vaughan on Sept. 15 has puzzled some people on social media since the Tory-led government has cut funding for public education yet it’s celebrating the opening of a private institute.

Niagara, a private Catholic university with its main campus is in Lewiston, New York, has already opened its doors on Jan. 21 in Vaughan.

Students studying at the university can either enrol in the bachelor of professional studies in education or the master of science in education programs. Both programs are fully accredited by the Ontario College of Teachers.

“I haven’t seen one photo of the Premier in any of our publicly-funded elementary or secondary schools in Ontario, yet here is cutting a ribbon to open a private American University in the Minister of Education's riding,” wrote Stephanie Donaldson, a trustee for the Toronto District School Board.

Donaldson was commenting on photos and a tweet by the Education Minister Stephen Lecce. In the tweet Lecce dubbed Sept. 15 as a “historic day” following the official ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“We mark the first university to open in our city -- focused on inspiring the next generation of educators,” Lecce wrote on Twitter.

While Lecce has announced that the province’s four-year, $1.6 billion attrition fund is to protect teaching jobs, the Toronto District School Board has cut 109 full-time teaching positions, impacting 155 people.

The ceremony was attended by Premier Doug Ford, Vaughan-Woodbridge MPP Michael Tibollo, Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua and of course Lecce, who is the MPP for Vaughan-King.

“Their priorities are upside down,” Donaldson added.

Barry Tango from Toronto also wrote that Ford “seems to be happy to promote a private Catholic American university while he cuts $1 million from public education in Ontario.”
“Tuition at Niagara University is over $30k/year,” he added, alluding to what a Google search would give of the university's tuition in New York.

Another Twitter user, Wendy Potter wrote, “tuition at this private university is $33,000 a year. I thought you were committed to every student succeeded? Your true colours and privilege are shinning both.”

Some other tweets

It truly bothers me that Premier Ford has not stepped foot in an Ontario public school, has slashed OSAP funding for Ontario students and yet will make an appearance at a PRIVATE university where tuition is unconscionable.

-- Ms.Lawther (@MsLawther) September 15, 2019

A private American university gets support from #DougFord’s @OntarioPCParty, but they drastically cut funding for Ontario’s colleges and universities, slash OSAP and grants, eliminate free tuition for low-income students, and cancel funding for 3 new GTA universities.#onpoli

-- Adam Lockett (@AdamLockett34) September 16, 2019

University operates on tuition only

However, to its defence, the university wrote from its Twitter official handle that as “a PEQAB-accredited degree granting institution, Niagara University does not receive any operating grants or public funding for capital in Ontario.

Operations are funded through tuition and endowment. The tuition is Cdn $15,600 for the BPS in teacher education, without specifying if this is for half a year.

The university also said that its Ontario programs feature an Ontario-based faculty providing instruction at its Vaughan location.

“We have previously been co-located with schools in York Region and Toronto since the mid-2000s.”

So far York Region hasn’t laid off any teachers. However, CUPE 1734, representing 3,200 education support workers for York Region District School Board, saw "record numbers and strong support" the evening of Sept. 9 for the union’s provincial mandate, which calls for labour action and would put the union in the legal position for a strike, its president said.

The president told Yorkregion.com that the government’s proposals for the union's members are "severe".