La Cité getting millions from provincial government for upgrades

Ottawa's La Cité is getting a financial boost from the Ontario government as part of the province’s funding to help colleges and universities across Ontario address their deferred maintenance backlog.

The college will get $2.35-million this year, which is part of the $466-million fund set aside for colleges and universities.

The investment will help create safe learning environments and prepare students for in-demand jobs, a news release from the Ontario government says.

The work will include critical repairs and updates, while supporting the renewal of infrastructure campus projects. These improvement will give students, faculty and staff a learning environment that is more modern and safe.

“Well-maintained facilities and access to the latest in learning tools and equipment are critical parts of a postsecondary education,” Caroline Mulroney, minister of transportation and francophone affairs, said. “By investing in Ontario’s postsecondary infrastructure, our government is supporting economic recovery, creating jobs and ensuring students obtain the skills they need for the in-demand jobs of today and tomorrow.”

As part of the facilities renewal program (FRP), the province is providing almost $1.86 million to La Cité to help address the ongoing need for maintenance, repair, renovation and modernization of existing facilities. This represents an increase of more than 273 per cent over last year.

“These investments will ensure La Cité can continue to offer the very best learning environments to our students while providing access to state-of-the-art tools and technology,” Lise Bourgeous, president of La Cité, said. “This funding will also spur local economic growth and create new job opportunities throughout our community.”

On top of that, the college equipment renewal fund (CERF) from the government will also provide over $497,000 to help the college buy and renew instructional equipment and learning resources. It can also be used to buy equipment to support student virtual learning during COVID-19.