milton education village

Good News Bad News Day for Milton

May 21, 2015May 21, 2015Mike Cluett

If you’ve been following the news recently, yesterday was a bit of a roller coaster for Milton.

Earlier in the day we found out that CN, despite its assertions to the contrary, must apply to the Canadian Transport Agency (CTA) for approval of their proposed intermodal in Milton.

What does this mean? It means that it isn’t going to be smooth sailing as they thought it would be. In the grand scheme of things it means it’s another hurdle CN must climb before anything is approved.

You can read about the decision here (Inside Halton/Milton Canadian Champion – Rachael Williams) Further to that, there is a decision pending to see if CN has to complete a full environmental assessment with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) as part of their plans. If this is ordered by the CEAA, CN will have yet another hurdle to overcome before anything happens with the intermodal facility.

Is it good news for Milton? Yes it is. It goes with what Halton Region municipalities have been asking for since day one. Follow the process any other developer would have to follow in Milton. Is it perfect? Not at all, but it shows CN that they simply can not make assumptions and they do indeed need to follow a process.

There’s the “good news” for Milton. Now, to the bad.

After close to 8 years of planning by the Town of Milton, Halton Region and Laurier University, the Province of Ontario made a decision for a new location of a university campus. It wasn’t Milton.

The Province announced yesterday that the City of Markham (the municipality that tried for an NHL arena without a franchise) was the winner and approved a new York University / Seneca College campus beating out 12 others including Milton – which was considered a favourite – and Barrie.

You can read about this decision here (Inside Halton/Milton Canadian Champion – Rachael Williams) Dr Max Blouw, who is the President and Vice-Chancellor of Laurier University, stated that they will indeed re-submit the proposal to the Province of Ontario in 2016. The small sliver of a silver lining is that all is not done with new university campuses in Ontario. They did say that in spring 2016 there will be another bid process opened up and the Milton Education Village has another shot.

I spoke of roadblocks earlier and this is one for Laurier University and the Town of Milton’s plans for the Education Village – located at Tremaine Road from Derry Road to Britannia Road – and potential economic development along with much needed job opportunities for Milton. The Education Village, along with the Derry Green Corporate Business Park, is one of the keys to job growth and success in the Town of Milton.

In a press release by the Town of Milton (see here) we have committed to forge ahead with these plans and continue our advocacy with the Province to approve this campus. Laurier University along with Dr Max Blouw willl press on and resubmit their proposal in the spring of 2016.

The question remains is this. Why not Milton? Milton being the fastest growing municipality in Canada, is a prime location in the GTA for a university campus. It has the full support of all parties involved including the Town, Halton Region and Laurier University along with their future partners. The land is ready, available and serviceable. There is also a facility in place that will be part of the campus up and running – a little thing called the Mattamy National Centre for Cycling which is now being prepared for the Pan AM Games in roughly 50 days.

All the pieces are in place, yet brushed aside by the Province. These questions will hopefully be answered over the course of time and between now and the next proposal date, I will continue to advocate to the Province of Ontario, our MPP and anyone else who will listen, that the Milton Education Village / Laurier University campus should be approved as quickly as possible.

Jobs, economic growth and not to mention the Province of Ontario’s long time promise of post secondary spaces are keys to success. Maybe the Province thought that a few token announcement of a couple of additional GO Trains and a quick payment of ice storm funds would suffice for Milton. Not in my opinion.

Its time the Province of Ontario sees this. With Milton growing as fast as it is, at the behest of the Province itself, with close to 400,000 residents expected by 2041, the provincial government must recognize that this is a priority area and the right decisions need to be made at the first opportunity, not as an afterthought.

Milton Has To Wait For University Campus … again

May 20, 2015May 20, 2015Mike Cluett

Markham chosen by the Province of Ontario for new York Campus while Milton continues to wait….yet again.

Here is a press release from the Town of Milton today.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Town of Milton forges on with plans for a Laurier campus

On Wednesday, May 20, 2015, Reza Moridi, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities announced that the City of Markham’s proposal for a combined York University/Seneca College campus has been accepted by the ministry’s capital expansion process. According to Minister Moridi, Markham’s is the sole proposal that will be considered at this time.

The announcement has deeply disappointed the Town of Milton and Wilfrid Laurier University. Since 2008, the two have been building a strong and determined partnership with the goal of bringing post-secondary opportunities to Canada’s fastest-growing municipality.

The Laurier Milton bid proposed a 150-acre university campus situated within a 400-acre Milton Education Village (MEV) on the southwest side of town, adjacent to the Niagara Escarpment. The MEV would be a purpose-built, fully integrated neighbourhood of multi-level education, research and commercialization, as well as complementary residential and commercial development.

“While I am thoroughly disappointed and saddened by this decision, it only strengthens our resolve to make the Milton Education Village a reality,” said Mayor Gord Krantz. “A university campus is key to building a complete community and we will continue to work closely with Laurier to bring that vision to life.”

During his announcement, Minister Moridi also mentioned that a targeted call for proposals for a postsecondary facility in Peel and Halton regions will be issued in the spring of 2016. The Town, along with Wilfrid Laurier and Halton Region will continue to move forward with conceptual plans for the MEV and will develop strategies to ensure that their bid is successful when the second call comes forward.

“Halton Region is committed to continuing to work with our community partners to help bring high-quality post-secondary education to the Town of Milton,” said Gary Carr, Halton’s Regional Chair. “The proposed Milton Education Village would fuel economic growth and foster community partnerships. We look forward to a successful outcome during the next investment by the Province in 2016.”

For additional information about the Milton Education Village, visitwww.milton.ca/en/townhall/miltoneducationvillage.asp.

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Milton Education Village Getting Closer?

January 20, 2014January 20, 2014Mike Cluett

According to an article in The Toronto Star, it looks like the provincial government in Ontario is making headway to possibly choosing more than the 3 promised campuses for post secondary institutions.

But the province no longer specifies it will fund precisely three such projects — despite the Liberals’ pledge for three new satellite campuses during the last election — but rather says now it will fund as many as required to meet the need.

“It could be more than three, it could be less, but the focus is on those high-growth areas that are currently underserved (by higher learning), where Ontario students are waiting to get into undergraduate programs,” said Emily Hedges, spokesperson for MPP Brad Duguid, Ontario’s minister of training, colleges and universities.

For the last couple of years you have read on my blog that Milton Education Village is one of those potential locations.

Here is some information from the Town of Milton website on the status of the Milton Education Village, the plans, who will be involved and the potential job opportunities that will be available, not only from the campus location but the Milton Innovation Centre being located there as well.

As Milton has grown rapidly over the last decade, the amount of new business development has fallen further behind our residential development. This puts even more pressure on the residential tax base to fund programs and future infrastructure as we rely less on business taxes & fees and more on property taxes.

Milton Town Council has been working hard with other levels of government to ensuring this becomes a reality. There is no end to the positive impacts this will have in Milton in driving new companies and jobs to Milton….something that we need.

Here is a link to the Star article.

By: Louise Brown

Queen’s Park will fund new satellite campuses and possibly expand current sites to make room for thousands more undergraduate students in boom areas where space is falling short of demand.

The ministry said it will soon call for proposals for expansion projects that each have space for at least 1,000 new students to start, with room for 5,000 to 10,000 more in the next 20 years. Proposals are expected to provide at least 6,500 new square meters of space (70,000 square feet).

Already several universities have said they hope to be considered for a new satellite campus. Sudbury’s Laurentian University has its eye on a campus in Barrie, where it currently offers some programs together with Georgian College, and Wilfrid Laurier University hopes to open a satellite campus in Milton, and there are others.

In recently released guidelines called the Major Capital Expansion Policy, the province said it will favour sites that offer a range of undergraduate degrees as well as student services, something satellite campuses sometimes lack.

“Satellite campuses can sometimes become a two-tier system where students don’t have the supports they need, from health counselling and disability services to academic counselling and a writing centre,” said Queen’s University student Allison Williams, a member of the steering committee of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance. “So we’re happy to see the province is requiring these services should be in place.”

It’s also crucial to ensure satellite campuses have some senior, tenured professors who conduct research — not just instructors on short-term contracts with little time to prepare, noted University of Waterloo Professor Kate Lawson, president of the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations.

“We’re happy there is a policy now on how satellite campuses will work, because we have seen problems before where they haven’t had decent libraries or labs, and sometimes even scramble to throw classrooms together,” said Lawson. “If you’re a student paying good money for an education, you want to make sure the quality is preserved wherever you are.”

Alastair Woods of the Canadian Federation of Students Ontario warned students at a satellite campus should be able to complete their entire degree at the satellite — which is not always the case.

Emily Hedges said this focus on degrees needn’t squeeze out community colleges, noting the province could consider new sites with degree programs offered jointly by a college and university.

Public Open House Milton Education Village Sept 25th

September 12, 2012Mike Cluett

Public Open House: Milton Education Village Secondary Plan

A Public Open House relating to the Milton Education Village Secondary Plan Study will be held:

Date: Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Location: Milton Sports Centre, Banquet Room (located closest to south entrance), 605 Santa Maria Blvd., Milton

Time: 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
(A presentation will be given by staff and the Consulting Team at 7:30 p.m., followed by a question and answer period)

The purpose of this initial public open house and presentation is to provide an opportunity for the public to discuss with Planning staff, the study process and initial results of the background studies relating to the Milton Education Village Secondary Plan (see map). Copies of the Background & Concepts Report will be available at the open house for viewing, and Town staff and members of the Consulting Team will be on hand to answer questions.

The Milton Education Village Secondary Plan is being conducted in accordance with Sections 17 and 21 of the Planning Act, and the policies of the Town of Milton Official Plan. In addition, all related Secondary Plan studies are being carried out in conformity with approved procedures contained in the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) Process.

We encourage you to take this opportunity to get involved in this exciting project, and to provide staff with your questions and comments. Public consultation is an essential component of the preparation of the Secondary Plan, and we ask you to join us and help shape the future of the Milton Education Village.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact Ms. Bronwyn Parker, Senior Policy Planner, 905-878-7252, ext. 2307, browyn.parker@milton.ca

Town of Milton Seeks Input on Velodrome

January 10, 2012January 11, 2012Mike Cluett

In keeping with my committment to hearing from residents on important issues that we face, the Town of Milton is looking for your input on the possible velodrome proposal that is coming up for councils review later this month.

This effort accomplishes two things. One is to get the all important feedback from residents on the direction of the town and second is to clear up any questions you may have about it. Its no secret that I have been a supporter of the idea as well as getting more information on the velodromes potential, its costs and the long term impact on the town of Milton. I am not 100 per cent on board with this until we “get the numbers”.

I was supportive of the project with the caveat that the impact on Milton taxpayers be minimal to zero (with no impact being my goal) from day one. I beleive that with this project in place, it will kick start the much needed approval for the Milton Education Village / Laurier University campus on the west side of town. You can search my blog for “velodrome” to see more of what has been discussed.

Please take some time to visit the Town’s website and provide your input today so that council can be presented with the full picture on the January 23rd meeting when the decision is to be made. We want to hear from you. Click on my link to the right to contact your town councillor if you would like to send us your comments directly. My email is mike@mikecluett.ca

NEWS RELEASE

January 10, 2012

Town of Milton seeks community input on Velodrome

The Town of Milton invites the community to provide input on the proposed Velodrome through the Town’s website, www.milton.ca .

In December 2011, Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan Am Games announced Milton as the preferred site for the Velodrome. A business plan is scheduled to be presented to Council on January 23, 2012 after which Council will decide whether or not to proceed with the Velodrome and hosting the Pan/Parapan Am Games.

“We are looking forward to learning from members of the Milton community how this major facility can best meet their recreational needs,” said Town of Milton Mayor Gord Krantz. “I encourage everyone to visit our website to find out more about this proposed facility and what it can mean for the Milton community.”

The Velodrome webpage will include information on location, funding, timelines, as well as plans for the Velodrome after the Pan/Parapan Am Games. Public input and comments are invited to be submitted through the webpage and will be accepted until January 18, 2012.

For more information or to provide input, visit www.milton.ca/en/townhall/velodrome.asp .

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For further information, please contact:

Jennifer Reynolds – Director, Community Services – 905-878-7252, ext. 2180

Liliana Busnello – Communications Specialist – 905-878-7252, ext. 2154

City of Hamilton Was Never Back In It

January 4, 2012January 5, 2012Mike Cluett

As I stated in this blog recently and in the Hamilton Spectator last week, the 2015 Pan Am Games committee has chosen Milton as the desired location for the velodrome. The City of Hamilton couldnt get a deal finalized after being part of the process for a couple of years and didnt get the job done.

MPP Ted McMeekin said recently that Hamilton is “too late to recoup the velodrome.”

Recently Hamilton Mayor Bob Bratina made comments that a silent funder had come forward to see if they can get one last chance to get the velodrome back to Hamilton, but that was once again shot down by Mr. McMeekin this week.

The Town of Milton has been chosen as the location of the velodrome pending approval by Milton Town Council. There is one more report to review and that is slated to be before us by January 23rd at an upcoming meeting. We have until the 24th to sign a binding agreeement with the Pan Am committee and we are awaiting the receipt of that report.

Here is the artcile from the Milton Canadian Champion/Hamilton Spectator by Matthew Van Dongen

Hamilton too late to recoup velodrome: McMeekin

Hamilton can’t buy its way back into the Pan Am velodrome race with mystery millions, says Liberal cabinet minister Ted McMeekin.

Sources told The Spectator last week a private corporation is willing to make a multimillion-dollar commitment to a permanent indoor cycling oval in Hamilton — even though Pan Am officials recently announced Milton as the facility host.

Milton has until Jan. 24 to sign a binding agreement to help fund the facility, which could cost up to $45 million.

“I guess if it doesn’t work out in Milton, everything is back on the table,” said McMeekin, the Minister of Agriculture and MPP for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale. “But the Pan Am people have been pretty clear Milton has been selected as the (velodrome) site. Clearly, the Pan Am people have moved on.”

Unless Milton backs out, McMeekin said he didn’t know how new mystery funding could help Hamilton’s cause “after the horses have left the barn.”

Hamilton was originally the preferred site for the cycling venue, but lost that status after Pan Am officials rejected the city’s $5 million offer towards building costs. A local fundraising group has continued collecting pledges and lobbying government to build in Hamilton and, in a recent year-end radio interview, Mayor Bob Bratina cited a deep-pocketed “prospective partner” for a local velodrome.

The mayor of Milton figures that effort is too little and too late.

“Where was that interest a few weeks ago? Seems pretty late in the game,” Gordon Krantz said of Hamilton’s behind-the-scenes manoeuvring.

Krantz acknowledged that Milton’s offer could still fall through. His council is set to consider a business plan for the velodrome on Jan. 23 — the day before the Pan Am deadline for finalizing an agreement. The town of close to 90,000 is also waiting for the provincial go-ahead for a satellite university campus that Milton politicians want to pair with the velodrome.

But even if Milton retracts its bid, there’s no guarantee Hamilton will get another crack at the cycling oval. Krantz said Pan Am officials have told him they would consider building a temporary velodrome on Toronto’s port lands if Milton doesn’t commit to a permanent facility.

“I don’t think anyone is enthusiastic about that idea,” he said. “I’m hoping we can make (a permanent indoor facility) happen.”

Milton has its own private benefactor, Mattamy Homes president Peter Gilgan, who has offered $9 million in donations and cash for naming rights.

But the town would have to find at least that much money again to cover the 44 per cent municipal portion of velodrome building costs, estimated by Infrastructure Ontario at between $35 million and $45 million.