Ontario announces two new post-secondary facilities

Sousa said, "After careful consideration we've decided to proceed with calls for proposals for two new post-secondary facilities and today I am delighted to announce that Brampton will be one of those sites.

Mayor Linda Jeffrey, local MPPs and other high profile dignitaries participated in the high level talks on Wednesday.

Alike Brampton, Milton too would be the other new post-secondary education facility site, as per the plans of the Queen Street. Deb Mathews, Minister of Advanced Education of Skills Management announced the site facilities in Milton, promising that the province will launch calls for proposals in January 2017.

The new planned facilities will focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and maths in Milton and Brampton, which are two of Ontario’s rapidly growing communities.

Over 150 people gathered in the new city hall to be witness to the iconic development of Brampton in the field of education.

“Creating this facility will help the citizens of Brampton access top-notch post-secondary education close to home and will help them develop the skills they need for the jobs of today and tomorrow," declared Sousa as the exuberant crowd clapped on.

Mayor Linda Jeffrey, called the announcement “historic” as she kept campaigning on landing a university.

"I am proud to share this transformative announcement with my colleagues on City Council," said the mayor.

Mayor Jeffrey thanked former Ontario Premier Bill Davis, with whom she paired up after her 2014 election win to campaign for a serious post-secondary facility in the city. Davis who was also present on the “historic” announcement day, was greeted and congratulated by all.

"We’re very pleased with the province’s recognition of the strong case Brampton has made for establishing a new university here,” Davis said. "We’re excited to present our plans and options as this project moves forward and we’re confident Brampton will soon be home to innovative post-secondary programs to help Brampton students develop skills critical for the future of the City, the Province and Canada."

Wednesday's announcement offered a big twist after the province had initially signalled that only one university would be approved in the government's second wave of post-secondary plans, and that Milton and Brampton would have to fight for that spot.

For local leaders, a Brampton university provides the “game changer” needed to help Canada’s ninth largest city boosts its profile and grow its economy.

"Successful cities combine capital, knowledge and innovation to spark the next chapter in their development – and this announcement has the power to transform our City and help prepare our students for the challenges society will face in the future," said Jeffrey, announcing what she called "a new chapter for the city."

The mayor's panel will present council with recommendations on a possible site and university partner in the following weeks.

(Reporting by Debarati Mukherjee, Image: City of Brampton/Facebook)