Title
UNIVERSITY CAMPUS IN BARRIE
WHEREAS Barrie is one of the fastest growing municipalities in Ontario and one of the few among the 25 urban growth centres without a university campus;
AND WHEREAS the City of Barrie Council has previously established a city centre postsecondary presence as a key priority in the 2010-2014 Strategic Plan;
AND WHEREAS Barrie has a low participation rate in university studies in all age categories when compared to the Ontario average despite our community being one of the youngest communities in Ontario;
AND WHEREAS Barrie has strong community support and partners for investment in a university campus in downtown Barrie;
AND WHEREAS in response to Laurentian University’s presentation to Council:
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS:
1. That the Mayor correspond with the Province of Ontario requesting that Barrie be designated as the City of choice for the next university campus in Ontario and expressing the City of Barrie’s strongest support for locating a university campus in Barrie’s City Centre.
2. That to demonstrate Barrie’s support and commitment to a new university campus in downtown Barrie, up to $14 million be provided over a 10 year period (including in-kind contributions) for a campus in the Downtown City Centre to a university successful in a future provincial RFP process, and making an equivalent commitment from its own sources.
3. That City Staff undertake all necessary work to be "university ready" in terms of meetings with the provincial government, community stakeholders, Georgian College, site selection, project planning, etc with the goal of successfully bringing a university campus to downtown Barrie.
4. That the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities be advised of the City's commitment to being "university ready".
5. That City staff report back to General Committee with any new information regarding the provincial process to determine the communities and universities for Ontario’s prop...
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