OSHAWA, Ont. - Durham College applauds the federal budget designed to create more space and improve access to post-secondary education - especially for those who want to pursue skilled trades.
New tax credits and incentives to help boost the country's skilled trades workforce provided a major post-secondary highlight in yesterday's budget and included:
"We're facing a major shortage of skilled trades people in today's workforce," said Leah Myers, president of Durham College. "Durham College prepares students for rewarding and challenging technical careers and has about 2,000 apprentices studying alongside students in a range of skilled trades and specialty programs. Yesterday's announcement of apprenticeship tax credits and incentives is an important step toward helping Canada develop a better skilled and educated workforce that is able to compete in today's global economy."
Another key highlight of the new budget is $1 billion to support urgent investments in infrastructure through the Post-Secondary Education Infrastructure Trust.
"We welcome the federal government's strong investment in supporting infrastructure and are eager to work with the province to ensure Durham College's capital priorities and needs are met," said Myers. "We also look forward to positive negotiations between Ottawa and the provinces on stable operating funding for post-secondary education."
Additional student access highlights of the budget included the elimination of federal income tax on all income from scholarships, bursaries and fellowships and expanded eligibility for Canada Student Loans through a reduction in the expected parental contribution, starting in August 2007. This will allow an additional 30,000 students to gain access to the program, and about 25,000 current borrowers to increase their loan amounts.
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About Durham College
For 38 years, Durham College has been committed to providing job-focused programs, accomplished professors, quality-driven innovation, student success and superior accountability. Our college has ranked first in provincial indicators for student satisfaction in the GTA for seven years running, and at a 93.1 per cent grad employment rate, we have the highest ranking of the six GTA colleges. We've got over 5,800 full-time and 23,000 part-time students enrolled in just under 100 programs, as well as about 2,000 apprentices. For more information, visit our website at www.durhamcollege.ca, or call 905.721.2000.
For further information, please contact:
Allison Rosnak
Communications and Marketing
Durham College
905.721.3111 ext. 2513
allison.rosnak@durhamcollege.ca
Disclaimer: The contact information provided in archived news releases was current at the release date. For current information please contact Communications and Marketing.