While the future of downtown Ryerson University campus in Brampton remains uncertain, other elements of the city’s planned partnership with the post-secondary institution will move forward.

Brampton council was given an update by city staff and Ryerson University reps at a special council meeting on Nov. 2, where councillors were assured the university remains committed to a planned expansion of its Chang School of Continuing Education and an innovation/cybersecurity hub.

Ryerson is also working on a new proposal for the campus to present to the province sometime next year, after the Ford government pulled $90 million in capital funding promised by the previous Liberal government.

“What we heard from the province was that the cancellation was due to their finances. They left the door open to come back with a further proposal and that’s what we’re looking to do with Brampton,” said Glenn Craney, Ryerson's deputy provost and vice-provost.

Brampton West MPP Amarjot Sandhu confirmed to the Guardian that the Ontario government is open to working with the city and university outside of capital funding.

During the last term of council, the City of Brampton approved $100 million for the construction of the new innovation hub, library and “cybersecurity catalyst,” with another $50 million tabbed for the campus itself. The library and innovation hub were to be shared city/campus spaces.

According to Brampton CAO Harry Schlange, the $50 million earmarked for the campus building will remain in place, while the city will go ahead with the funding and planning process for the library, innovation hub and cybersecurity institute.

The Chang School of Continuing Education's Brampton expansion is set to open in January 2019, and will move forward unimpeded. The university plans to use space in the West Tower at City Hall to ensure that part of the expansion will move ahead on schedule.

In addition, university administrators are currently lobbying the federal government for funding to keep the cybersecurity institute on track.

Schlange and Craney could not provide council with an exact timeline, but suggested the new campus proposal could take several months as stakeholders are forced to go back to the drawing board. Further details were promised after the city’s newly-elected council is sworn-in come December.