Horwath says it’s not too late to save Laurentian University

NDP Leader fighting to keep local jobs, learning opportunities in Sudbury

SUDBURY — Official Opposition NDP Leader Andrea Horwath believes it’s not too late to save Laurentian University, and says she’ll never stop fighting to keep the good-paying jobs and learning opportunities its success brings to Sudbury.

“We can’t give up on Laurentian — it’s too important to the community,” said Horwath. “It creates good, well-paying careers in Sudbury and gives young people the opportunity to study close to home so they can stay, live and raise their family here.

“The Ford government has been in hiding when it comes to saving Laurentian. Doug Ford is sending the message that his government is not here for Sudbury, not here for university students, and not here for the North. They don’t want to spend the money on Laurentian, and students, staff, faculty and the whole community is paying a huge price for that.”

Years of underfunding by Liberal and Conservative governments, and a complete refusal by the Doug Ford government to step in to help, has put Laurentian into crisis. The university was forced to close nearly 70 of its programs, including midwifery, and let go of more than 100 faculty members.

Horwath travelled to Sudbury Wednesday to listen to students, faculty and Sudbury community members. She was joined by NDP MPPs Jamie West (Sudbury), France Gélinas (Nickel Belt), and NDP Francophone Affairs critic Guy Bourgouin (Mushkegowuk—James Bay), who have stood shoulder to shoulder with staff, faculty and students in opposition to the cuts.

“It never should have come to this. If I were premier today, I’d be relentless in building an action plan to save Laurentian. It’s not too late to save these jobs. It’s not too late to secure the future of Laurentian, and generations of northern Ontario students.”

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Jean-Charles Cachon, Professor Emeritus at the Faculty of Management at Laurentian University
“The elimination of essential BA programs will deprive Northern Ontario high schools from teachers in these subjects, and will result in more students leaving the region to go study elsewhere. As a result, like 40 years ago, Sudbury could suffer a new era of youth outmigration and see a reversal of its population growth. Only the provincial government can stop this by providing proper funding to Northern postsecondary institutions.”

Video: https://www.facebook.com/100044127531830/videos/398240085355485