Ford announces two new post-secondary campuses, LTC home coming to Milton, Ont.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced the province’s plan to support the development of new post-secondary campuses and a long-term care facility on Thursday as part of its work to build an “education village” in Milton, Ont.
The premier was joined by Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark and Minister of Colleges and Universities Ross Romano to announce the Milton Education Village — an education and community care hub.
The Milton Education Village will include new campuses for Conestoga College and Wilfrid Laurier University, as well as space for a new Schlegel Villages long-term care home, says the government.
The village will also include room for a potential hospice site, residential housing and an additional mix of commercial and retail uses.
Premier Ford told the media that the project “will create much-needed accommodations for 6,700 students, so they can focus on studying programs in high demand fields such as science Healthcare Engineering Technology and Business.”
“[These are] all areas that align with the hiring needs of this region, which made it vital that we proceed with no delay,” Ford said.
Conestoga and Laurier will also provide experiential learning and work-integrated learning opportunities for students, says a release on the announcement.
The Schlegel Villages long-term care home is scheduled to open in late 2023 and the government expects it to provide 192 new long-term care spaces in Milton.
“The progress announced today on the Milton Education Village means we are one step closer to building 192 safe, modern spaces for our loved ones to call home,” Minister of Long-Term Care Merrilee Fullerton said.
To fast-track the project, the Ford government will implement a Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO).
MZOs allow the government to fast-track land developments in the Greater Toronto Area and immediately authorize development, regardless of local rules for land-use planning decisions.
“Today’s announcement is a perfect example of how our government is using tools like Minister’s Zoning Orders, in partnership with municipalities, to help quickly get shovels in the ground on important projects that will positively impact the community for generations,” Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing said.
The use of MZOs in the province has garnered criticism, with some worried the orders may allow for governments to push through new projects without full consultation.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Blind Sask. boy heading to international braille competition hopes to increase accessibility for visually impaired
A Saskatchewan boy who qualified for an international braille competition in Los Angeles next month hopes he can inspire change in his home province.
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Steve Albini, legendary producer for Nirvana, the Pixies and an alternative rock pioneer, dies at 61
Steve Albini, an alternative rock pioneer and legendary producer who shaped the musical landscape through his work with Nirvana, the Pixies, PJ Harvey and more, has died. He was 61.