Milton mayor will continue work to get Laurier-Conestoga campus

Milton, Ont.mayor Gord Krantz says he's not planning to walk away from attracting asatellite Wilfrid LaurierUniversity-Conestoga College campus to his city after the provinceannounced Tuesday it would pull funding from the project.

"I'm in it to win it," Krantztold CBCKitchener-Waterloo. "I mean to have this facility be put in Milton."

Krantzand the universityhad been working to implement a campus in Milton for the past decade.

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He adds the city has over 180 hectares set aside for the Milton Education Village and planned to giveLaurier40 of those hectaresfor the new facility.

In April the province announced it would put $90 million toward the project.

Tuesday's announcement to pull funding also affectedtwo other GTA joint campuses:the York University-Seneca College campus inMarkhamand aRyersonUniversity-Sheridan College campus in Brampton.

Work continues

WilfridLaurier University, Conestoga College and Krantzare all committed to continue the project.

Conestoga College presidentJohn Tibbits told CBChe was not surprised with the government's decision, adding that it could be an opportunity to explore how to better implement a joint campus in Milton.

If I have to wait another year so be it.- Milton mayorGordKrantz

Deborah Dubenofsky, vice-president of finance and administration at Lauriersaid they have reached out to the ministry to discuss potential next steps.

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"We will be looking to meet with the ministry in the coming weeks to start a discussion about apath to start moving forward," Dubenofskysaid.

"The government has indicated that they are willing to entertain a business case."

Krantzsaid his work with Laurier will continue and he is hopefulto have the matter resolved.

"Anything that is worthwhile is sometimes worth waiting for and I've been waiting 10 years for this, so if I have to wait another year so be it. It'll still be worthwhile in the long run," he said.