'The provincial government is stepping up with permanent base funding to make sure STEM training is not affected, but that’s not all it is doing'

You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.

The Ontario government this week took a welcome and long overdue step towards paying for the kind of post-secondary system the province needs to drive economic growth.

Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.

Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

It will spend $750 million over five years to cover the cost of 20,500 student places in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). People with those skills are essential in a tech-driven world. It makes sense to train as many as possible.

However, the news isn’t quite as good as it would first appear. This is not a major expansion of STEM training. Rather, it is largely the Doug Ford government belatedly providing the money for something universities, and to some extent colleges, are already doing.

This newsletter tackles hot topics with boldness, verve and wit. (Subscriber-exclusive edition on Fridays)

By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.

A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.

The next issue of Platformed will soon be in your inbox.

We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again

Interested in more newsletters? Browse here.

Ontario’s rigid and out-of-date university funding formula hampers universities’ ability to respond to economic demand by limiting the number of students they can take.........

© National Post