Ontario universities welcomed Youth Jobs Strategy announced in the provincial government’s budget May 2 as another component in helping students succeed, Alastair Summerlee, chair of the Council of Ontario Universities, said in a statement.
“Graduates leave our institutions with the knowledge and critical thinking skills they need to move across many occupations over their lifetime in an increasingly complex job market,” he said. “Ontario universities endorse any effort by government to create new job opportunities for our graduates in this economy, and to support our innovators and entrepreneurs.”
The government announced a $295 million investment over two years as part of a youth employment strategy, which it estimates will create 30,000 new jobs. The strategy includes youth entrepreneurship innovation funds to support the next generation of job creators, as well as a fund to connect business, labour, educators and youth to help prepare students for their careers.
The council acknowledged the dual fiscal challenges facing universities, with a reduced tuition cap and cuts to operational budgets. A cap on tuition increases averaging three percent a year followed a cut in operating grants announced in the last provincial budget of $40 million in 2013/14 and nearly $80 million in 2014/15.