Council of Ontario Universities Conseil des universités de l’Ontario Vol. 9 No. 1 March 2007 ncil for 2006- Cou 20 of 07 rs be em SEE m COU honours former e h t PECIAL t S e e UPPLEMENTIDE For the M S INS Premier Bill Davis with Lifetime Achievement Award n December 7, 2006, relative newcomer to provin- the man whom Premier cial politics, was assigned the Dalton McGuinty and challenging education portfo- Oformer Premiers of Ontario refer to lio and, two years later, was as “Mr. Premier” – the Honourable appointed Minister of Univer- William (Bill) G. Davis – was present- sity Affairs. Holding the dual ed with the Lifetime Achievement ministerial roles until 1971, Award by the Council of Ontario Mr. Davis promoted education Universities (COU). Mr. Davis, who as the road to prosperity for served as Premier of Ontario from a rapidly expanding popula- 1971 to 1985, was recognized for his tion and, in doing so, ushered vision, leadership and lifelong com- RECORDin an extraordinary period of mitment to postsecondary education RECORDchange for Ontario. and for achieving the most significant He set up new public advances in postsecondary education schools, often in centralized in the history of the province. locations, to accommodate Close to 120 invited guests, larger numbers of students; including family members and a consolidated and revamped wide Ontario’s inefficient and array of unwieldy school board sys- leaders tem, instilling a new attitude Presentation of COU Lifetime Achievement Award to Bill Davis (left) by Bob Rae from the that schools should be co- univer- operative, not competitive; and sities, created the TVOntario educational tutions and, in particular, its educa- the Gov- colleges television network for classrooms tional system. Most recently, he was a ernment and gov- and living rooms across the province. member of the Advisory Panel to the of Canada ernment, Mr. Davis also established sev- government-commissioned Postsec- will attended eral new universities throughout ondary Review, led by Mr. Rae. in fact the gala Ontario that continue to flourish Mr. Rae, who presented COU’s undertake Premier McGuinty called dinner and grow today and – by champion- inaugural award to Mr. Davis, to supply Mr. Davis “an education held ing legislation that would “meet the described him as “the finest public the uni- trail-blazer.” in Mr. relevant needs of all adults within servant of our generation” and noted versities Davis’s honour. In attendance a community, at all socio-economic that he “had a vision of education as of Canada were former Premiers Bob Rae and levels, of all kinds of interests and being at the core of our life” and that, David Peterson was on with suf- David Peterson and former educa- aptitudes during a time of great expansion and hand to toast “a great ficient tion ministers Dave Cooke, Dianne and at all change, he “understood what needed leader.” funds at Cunningham, Janet Ecker and Bette stages of to be done.” least for Stephenson. And those who could education In accepting the Lifetime capital purposes….’” not attend – Premier McGuinty achieve- Achievement Award, Mr. Davis In closing, Brampton’s staunchest and former Premiers Mike Harris ment” – ever the consummate politician and advocate and proudest son also made and Ernie Eves – sent congratula- – put in orator – seized the occasion to speak a pitch to the members of Council to tory messages. In taped remarks, place the directly to the representatives of gov- carry on with its ongoing advocacy Premier McGuinty referred to Mr. structure of ernment in attendance. He said that efforts. “You can actually help the Davis as “an education trail-blazer” Ontario’s he “would like to see introduced a governments by being constructively because “he believed in the power of colleges motion into the House of Commons critical as they assess their priorities… education and made a lasting impact He handled difficult of applied that said: ‘where postsecondary edu- it’s fundamental. It’s necessary.” decisions with “grace and on the quality of our schools and arts and cation is essential to the economic Mr. Davis’s words echoed wisdom,” said Mike Harris. universities.” technol- well-being of Canada; where the Premier McGuinty’s commitment Mr. Davis’s indelible legacy to ogy which has ultimately resulted in institutions are no longer provincial expressed earlier in his taped remarks the province began when he served the creation of 24 public colleges. but are national in fact; whereas it – that his government will continue as Ontario’s first and longest-serving In the years that have followed is important to the economic and working with organizations such minister responsible for colleges and Mr. Davis’s retirement from office, the social well-being of the future as COU “to build on Bill’s work, to universities. It was the 1960s – a time he has continued to take not only a of Canada; and whereas it is funda- make our colleges and our universi- of tremendous social and technologi- strong interest but also an active role mental that we do more to support ties the best that they can be, to make cal transformation – and Mr. Davis, a in the life of Ontario’s public insti- education throughout this country, Ontario a place where everyone cont’d on pg.2 1 Applications to Ontario universities up by over 5% from last year Good news story on “access” – story on “quality” yet to be written s of January 11, 2007 – the aspiration and commitment to uni- the universities anticipated that the Although the Reaching Higher plan deadline for submission versity education is a good news increased investment would fund has committed funds for graduate Aof university applications story for Ontario – not surprising improvements in quality on cam- enrolment expansion and quality – 79,568 secondary school students since university graduates contrib- pus, including better student- improvements, these funds cannot had applied for first-year admis- ute immensely to Ontario’s social faculty ratios to enhance the student be diverted to fund these additional sion to Ontario universities for fall and economic development, to the experience. However, as docu- students – which are, in effect, a 2007. This was an increase of 3,908 health and well-being of its citizens, mented in COU’s November 2006 new cost that needs to be covered applicants or 5.2% over 2006 for and to its competitive position in paper, Progress Report: University by government – especially in light the same period, and an increase of the global knowledge economy. Access, Accountability and Quality of the fact that universities are still 9.0% and 11.7%, over 2005 and 2004 This positive trend in applica- in the Reaching Higher Plan, higher- waiting for the province to flow levels, respectively. This signifi- tions can be attributed in no small than-anticipated enrolments have funding for the additional growth cant growth comes on top of major part to the province’s Reaching constrained the universities’ capac- experienced in 2006-07. increases in applications in recent Higher plan, which was introduced ity to make these improvements. Ontario universities want the years, even after the double cohort in the 2005 budget and allocated The report shows that these applicants for September 2007 to had been accommodated. (The cur- $2.8 billion over five years in new enrolments – which are 14,000 have at least the same prospect of rent 2006-07 enrolment of 357,300 funding to Ontario universities to higher in 2006-07 than planned for acceptance as previous years’ appli- students represents an increase of enhance quality, accountability and in the Reaching Higher projections cants, but they cannot do it without over 40% since 2000-01.) accessibility. – have created a funding shortfall the province’s help in funding the Once again, the number of But the increased demand also of about $100 million for this year, enrolment growth. This year, each applicants exceeded projections, poses significant challenges for the a figure that will grow to at least of Ontario’s universities entered as it had in 2006 and 2005. This university sector. The province and $300 million annually by 2009-10. into a multi-year accountability agreement with the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universi- Ensuring that Funding Realities Are Better Understood ties, binding that institution to make substantial improvements on hrough a co-ordinated, province-wide effort leading • Nonetheless, from their high points, it would require campus. But these quality improve- Tup to the provincial budget, Ontario universities are $800 million to close the gap relative to the provincial ments – sought by both government ensuring that the funding realities of higher education are budget and $1.3 billion to close the gap relative to and universities – will be at risk if being presented to Ministers, MPPs, mayors, local and the GDP. the province does not commit new regional councillors, community groups, local Chambers …Relative to Other Provinces funds to meet the demands of these of Commerce and the media through a series of meet- • On a funding per-capita basis, Ontario has been 10th out additional students. ings, consultations, outreach activities, letters and editorial of 10 provinces for over 10 years. pieces. These numbers make a compelling case for signifi- Premier McGuinty acknowl- • While the gap has narrowed as a result of the Reaching cant increases in investment to fund larger-than-expected edges that Ontario has “the lowest Higher plan, it is estimated that it would still require enrolment numbers and much-needed quality improve- levels of funding for our colleges $950 million to reach the funding level of the other nine ments on campus. and our universities” and is in fact provinces as of 2004-05.