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Community News

If you want to stay up-to-date with what’s going on in the news, this section will be updated with current press coverage which will highlight activities and information regarding George Smitherman in his role as MPP for the riding of Toronto Centre.   

Watch for more updates to this section next month.

April 11, 2008

ONTARIO INVESTS IN CAMPUS RENEWAL

AT Ryerson, U of T and OCAD

McGuinty Government Helps Universities Respond To Rising Enrollment

TORONTO - Universities across Ontario are receiving a total of $200 million in provincial funding to help them renew their campuses and improve the learning environment for their students.

Ryerson University will receive $10,131,400 of this funding to make improvements to existing buildings, upgrade equipment, renovate facilities, increase energy efficiency and improve security and accessibility .

The University of Toronto will receive $37,734,300 and the Ontario College of Art & Design ("OCAD") $2,150,800.

Ontario's universities have been experiencing unprecedented growth and need to ensure campuses continue to provide the best learning space possible to support students .   The Ontario government is committed to ensuring high quality postsecondary education is accessible across Ontario.   

QUOTES

"Our students are future business and community leaders," said George Smitherman, MPP for Toronto Centre. "And today's announcement will help to ensure they have access to the best education possible at the best facilities. By investing in their future, we are investing in Toronto's and Ontario's future." said George Smitherman, MPP Toronto Centre.

"Ontario's skilled and highly educated workforce is a key economic advantage and enhances Ontario's position as a destination of choice for global investment," said Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities John Milloy .

"The Ontario Government's investment in campus renewal will yield a strong return," says Sheldon Levy, President of Ryerson University. "We know that providing quality conditions for students and faculty has a direct impact on generating knowledge and research that goes right back to the community."

"We're very pleased about this latest infrastructure investment in higher education. The Ontario government clearly understands that we have to renew our facilities to attract leading scholars and the most promising students from across Canada and the world," says David Naylor, President, University of Toronto. 

"This investment by the Government of Ontario will help us to better deliver innovative and imaginative programs to our rapidly expanding population of undergraduate and graduate students by providing them with upgraded studio and classroom facilities," said OCAD President Sara Diamond.

QUICK FACTS

•  Postsecondary enrolment is up 25 per cent in Ontario since 2004, with 100,000 more students attending college or university.

•  Ontario has one of the highest postsecondary enrolment rates in the G8 group of industrialized nations.  

LEARN MORE

Learn more about Ontario's universities .Explore what you can do after high school .

Thursday March 13, 2008  

McGuinty Government Supporting Local Tourism through Celebrate Ontario
Festivals and Events in Toronto Centre will receive over $1.6 million in support

Toronto - George Smitherman, MPP for Toronto Centre announced this week that local events and festivals are receiving more than $1.6 million from the McGuinty government to help enhance programming, attract more visitors and support the local economy.

"This is tremendous boost for Toronto's tourism industry which will draw more visitors and help our local businesses," said MPP George Smitherman.   "These funds also give Toronto and Torontonians increased opportunity to celebrate our city."

In all, more than ten different festival organizations housed in the riding of Toronto Centre are receiving funding, including:

Luminato	$ 300,000
Pride Toronto/Pride Week 2008	$ 291,838
Just for Laughs Toronto Festival	$ 286,512
Toronto International Film Festival	$ 285,949
Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival	$ 187,500
Annual Portugal Week 2008 Celebrations	$ 73,688
Santé Wine Festival	$ 75,000
The Word On The Street: Toronto Book and Magazine Festival	$ 75,000
International Environmental Film & Video Festival	$ 63,529
ScotiaBank Buskerfest	$ 52,500

"Rapidly emerging as one of the leading major events on the Toronto entertainment landscape, Scotiabank Buskerfest looks to attract well over a half million spectators this year with the addition of an exciting new collection of international performers made possible with the support of Celebrate Ontario."  Says Buskerfest coordinator, Bonnie Taylor, "Not only has this festival become the signature event of the vibrant St. Lawrence Market community, it is now widely recognized as one of the 5 elite Busker Festivals on the globe".

This year, the McGuinty government has more than doubled its investment in the Celebrate Ontario program to $10 million, which has greatly enhanced the capacity of festivals and events throughout the province.   "Festivals and events play a major role in boosting tourism across the province," said Tourism Minister Peter Fonseca. "Tourism is an important economic driver and ensuring its long-term growth is part of our plan to strengthen Ontario's economic advantage."  

For further information regarding Celebrate Ontario, please visit www.tourism.gov.on.ca .

Tuesday March 25, 2008

MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT'S 2008 BUDGET STRENGTHENS ONTARIO AND CREATES OPPORTUNITY IN TORONTO
$1.5 billion investment in skills training and $135 million for better dental care

Toronto - George Smitherman, MPP for Toronto Centre, announced today that the McGuinty Government's 2008 Ontario Budget delivers strong results for Toronto.

"The 2008 Ontario Budget invests $1.5 billion in Skills to Jobs and employment training, and focuses on creating jobs in the short term to strengthen our economy in the long term", announced George Smitherman.   "The budget also provides important support to low-income families, including $135 million over 3 years to provide better dental care, and $1 billion over five years to provide a new property tax grant for low and moderate income senior homeowners".

QUICK FACTS

Children and Families:

•  $135 million over three years to provide better dental care for low-income families.

•  $9 million for the development of the new, expanded Toronto Ronald McDonald House, which will provide support and provide more accommodation for families of seriously ill children from across Ontario who must travel to Toronto for medical treatment

•  $36.4 million to rehabilitate existing social housing units.

•  Increasing Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program benefits by two percent in 2008-2009, the fourth increase since 2003.

•  Raising the Minimum Wage by 75 cents on March 31 st , 2008, to $8.75 an hour, the fifth increase provided by the McGuinty Government since 2003.

•  $1 billion over five years to provide a new property tax grant for low and moderate income senior homeowners.

Education:

•  $32 million over three years for the Student Nutrition Program, doubling the annual funding.

•  $16 million to expand Pathways to Education to increase the number of at-risk-youth who finish high school.

•  $10 million more in the 2008-2009 school year for English as a Second Language training.

Job Creation and Skills Training:

•  $1.5 billion over 3 years for Skills to Jobs that will expand postsecondary aid and programs, and will build places to learn.  

•  $970 million over three years for Building Places to Learn to expand training centres and upgrade university facilities.

•  $355 million over three years for the Second Career Strategy to help 20,000 unemployed workers get long-term training for new careers.

•  $75 million over three years to increase new apprentices by 25 per cent by 2011-2012 to a total of 32,500 registrants per year.

Transit:

•  $497 million in 2007-08 funding for public transit in the Greater Toronto Area and Hamilton, including the following Metrolinx projects:

•  $293 million for Yonge Subway capital improvements

•  $7.1 million for TTC Transit City Light Rail Transit (LRT) Head Start

•  $382 million in 2008-09 for rehabilitation projects, including improvements to GO Transit facilities at Union Station and other stations throughout the network, as well as replacement and renewal of GO Transit equipment.

"This Budget is about ensuring that all Ontarians have the opportunities and skills to succeed, so that they are working in jobs that will strengthen Ontario's economy", stated George Smitherman.   "It also provides strategic investments in children and families, such as $32 million over three years for the Student Nutrition Program, $16 million towards the expansion of Pathways to Education, and $10 million more in the 2008-2009 school year for English as a Second Language training."

For further information regarding the 2008 Ontario Budget, please visit www.fin.gov.on.ca.

January 29, 2008

MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT INVESTS IN CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS AT 5 DOWNTOWN POST SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS
New Funding Invests In Local Economies And In Our Students' Futures

TORONTO -The McGuinty government is investing over $40 million in 5 downtown colleges and universities in Toronto to make campus improvements, George Smitherman, MPP for Toronto Centre, announced today.

"Today's students will build Ontario's future economy.   Our government is improving the quality of postsecondary education for students by investing in key campus improvements at Collège Boréal, George Brown College, University of Toronto, Ryerson University and the Ontario College of Art and Design" said Smitherman. "Toronto will benefit today through a boost to the local economy with new spending and jobs and in the future through an investment in our students."

This funding will help these institutions complete priority projects related to energy efficiency and campus safety and make upgrades and improvements to existing facilities.

"This funding is part of our government's overall strategy to invest in the people of Ontario through strategic infrastructure improvements and new job creation," said John Milloy, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. "It is also an important investment in tomorrow's workforce by creating better, safer learning environment for our students."

This campus renewal funding is part of the $1.4 billion announced in the Fall Economic Statement for strategic infrastructure investments.

The funding allocations are as follows:          

"Combined with the announcements for York University, Centennial College and Seneca College, GTA post secondary institutions received almost $63 million with today's announcement; that's a real investment in our communities and our future." Said George Smitherman

January 29, 2008

MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT ENGAGING PARENTS IN EDUCATION
Projects In Toronto Centre Help Parents Get Involved

Toronto - School councils in Toronto Centre will receive funding for 6 projects as part of the McGuinty government's investment in local parent engagement initiatives across Ontario.

In total, the McGuinty government is providing the Toronto District School Board, Toronto Catholic School Board and the Counseil scolaire de district de Centre Sud/Sud-Ouest with $185,153.35 in funding for 218 regional parent engagement projects in the Toronto region.

  "Parents put a lot of time, energy and creativity into their applications for these projects," said George Smitherman, MPP Toronto Centre.   "I am pleased that we are able to support innovative projects right here in Toronto Centre that will encourage more parents to become engaged."

Parents Reaching Out (PRO) grants support projects that help create a more welcoming environment for parents who face barriers to becoming engaged in their children's education or school.

Projects funded across the province include:

•  Workshops for parents to increase their engagement in their children's education and their children's school

•  Outreach run by the local school to increase awareness of the importance of parent engagement

•  Projects that support parent engagement in isolated communities

•  Translation of school materials in multiple languages, and

•  Other projects to reduce barriers that prevent parents from becoming engaged in their children's education.

More than 1,300 local, regional and provincial projects are being funded, for a total investment of $2.3 million.

  "We know that students whose parents are actively engaged in their education tend to feel better about school and to achieve more in class," said Wynne.   "That's why we are investing in projects that help reduce barriers to parent engagement."

Parents Reaching Out Grants and the new Provincial Parent Board are part of the McGuinty government's strategy to strengthen parents' role in their children's success at school.

Other ways the government is helping to support parent engagement:

•  Funding 89 Parenting and Family Literacy centres in high-needs neighbourhoods across the province.   These centres focus on building children's literacy and numeracy skills, engage parents in their children's learning and can link families with appropriate community resources.

•  Launching the ministry's ABC123 website which gives tips to parents in 14 languages on how to help their child with homework, reading, writing and math.

"Parents play a vital role in their children's education," said Smitherman. "It is important for us to work with them to make it easier for more parents to get involved. In a community such as ours, with so many new immigrants arriving each day, we face the added barriers of language, culture and the pressures of settling into a new country. With programs such as the ones being announced today, we are taking active steps towards helping new Canadian's overcome these barriers."