The unions for faculty and support staff at two Ontario colleges say workers were “blindsided” by the decision to merge the two schools, and believe it is the result of the province failing to properly invest in post-secondary education.
Fleming College in Peterborough and St. Lawrence College in Kingston announced Friday they would merge, saying the new school will be run by a single management team with no changes to programs, campuses, services or student supports.
Dayna Smockum with the Ministry of Colleges and Universities says the unions are misguided and pointed to a recent multibillion-dollar funding boost for colleges and universities, saying government funding is “higher than it’s ever been.”
In February, Ontario announced $6.4 billion for colleges and universities that have long faced low levels of government funding.
