Harsh news for the Francophone university community in Ontario: the provincial government refused the request for funding issued by the University of Sudbury on Friday afternoon.
This proposal “does not match current demand and enrollment trends, nor the current capacity of existing institutions to offer French-language programming in Greater Sudbury and across Ontario,” reads an email from Assistant Deputy Minister Denys Giguère to the university, that The Press obtained.
“Our first reaction is surprise, followed by disappointment. The Ontario government has been aware of the project for six months, ”reacted rector Serge Miville, on the phone with The Press.
“The state of the dialogue that continued every two weeks was always encouraging and constructive, and the feedback we received was always positive,” he adds.
It’s really a reversal, from our perspective, which is surprising. Our relationship is very good with the ministry.
Serge Miville, rector of the University of Sudbury
Mr. Miville does not intend to abandon the project. For him, having Francophone institutions “that can govern themselves” is essential in Ontario.
“For us, this is not the end. We are going to roll up our sleeves and work hard for our students. »