News Release

Government moves forward with SuperBuild Growth Fund

TORONTO – (October 18, 1999) The Ontario Government is fulfilling its commitment to modernize and expand the infrastructure of Ontario’s colleges and universities by moving forward with the SuperBuild Growth Fund. Postsecondary institutions have now been advised of the criteria by which projects will be considered.

“This investment will help us ensure that our colleges and universities continue to have places for all qualified and motivated students graduating from high school now and in the future,” said Dianne Cunningham, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.

Higher education is the first sector to receive funding under SuperBuild, which will invest $742 million this year for postsecondary institutions to build and modernize in anticipation of an expanded student population. Of the total amount, $660 million is for new capital projects, but with private sector contributions it is expected that this amount will increase significantly.

In order to be considered for SuperBuild funding, colleges and universities must identify:

• the number of new student spaces that would be created
• the amount of partnership funding in place
• demonstrated student demand for both the institution and the programming to be offered in the new facility, and
• assessment of the project’s contribution to the long-term economic strength of the community/region.

If a proposal is submitted jointly by two or more institutions, they will be required to provide evidence of a joint academic plan that builds on the individual strengths of each institution. Preference will be given to collaborative projects between colleges and universities.

The deadline for the submission of proposals by a single institution is the end of business, Monday, November 15, 1999. Proposals submitted by two or more institutions must be received by Wednesday, December 15, 1999. The ministry will begin evaluating proposals on Monday, October 25, 1999.

The SuperBuild Growth Fund was first announced in the 1999 Ontario Budget and will consolidate all of Ontario’s infrastructure spending under one program to ensure that the province’s priorities are met. The fund will inject $20 billion into Ontario’s infrastructure over the next five years, half of which will come from the government’s partners in the public and private sectors. In the first year, the province will invest $2.9 billion in Ontario’s infrastructure.