NDP: More cuts at Fanshawe show colleges are in a major crisis

LONDON – Ontario NDP MPP Teresa Armstrong (London—Fanshawe), Shadow Minister for Colleges and Universities, Peggy Sattler (London West) and MPP Terence Kernaghan (London North Centre) say the latest round of cuts at Fanshawe College shows the harsh reality of an Ontario college system that is still being pushed toward collapse after years of this government’s neglect.

“Students, workers, and communities are the ones paying the price for this government’s failure to properly fund colleges,” said Armstrong. “Fanshawe plays a truly massive role in London’s economy and workforce, and every cut has a ripple effect across our city.”

Fanshawe College announced this week that more job cuts are expected as the college continues trying to manage a major financial shortfall, despite reducing its projected deficit from more than $50 million to $10.9 million.

“The Premier and his ministers keep talking about supporting workers and growing the economy, but colleges across Ontario are cutting programs, laying off staff, and losing the capacity to train the next generation,” said Sattler. “That contradiction is impossible to ignore.”

“London and the province as a whole simply cannot afford any more instability,” said Kernaghan. “Colleges should be focused on educating students and preparing people for good jobs, not scrambling to survive another round of cuts.”