The Doug Ford government today at 6pm announced the cancellation of funding for the Wynne government’s university expansion plans in Markham ($125M), Milton ($90M), and Brampton ($90M) (see full announcement). The decision comes not even 24 hours after the municipal elections in the province.

In a response to the decision, Mayor-elect Patrick Brown responded for comment with the following statement:

The previously funded satellite campus was the bare minimum the province could do to provide help and opportunities to young people in Brampton. Canceling the bare minimum investment into post secondary education is very disappointing.

I hope the PC MPPs in Markham, Milton and Brampton will stand up for their communities and speak to the Minister.

I believe Brampton deserves a full university, not just a small satellite campus. This is a step backwards towards what the City of Brampton deserves.

Social media response to the decision has been swift:

.@fordnation cutting provincial funding to Ontario’s GTA cities is not merely a cut felt by its mayors/councils. It is a direct attack on citizens of those cities: on the very PEOPLE of Ontario you were elected to serve. 1/2 #forthepeople #onpoli #brampoli #miltonon #peel #halton — Kulvinder Kaur MD (@dockaurG) October 24, 2018

Doug Ford’s cancellation of university campuses will hurt young people and economic growth in the GTA and beyond. — Kathleen Wynne (@Kathleen_Wynne) October 24, 2018

So, #Brampoli cancels that $150MM it was gonna spend DT in conjunction with Ryerson campus?@Metrolinx loses the money that #onpoli and @RyersonU were paying for the site and is now “stuck” with multiple boarded up houses? — Toarea Fan 🇨🇦 (@TOareaFan) October 24, 2018

@RyersonU secured $90-million in provincial funding to build a campus in Brampton serving about 2,000 students. Was supposed to open in 2022. This was cancelled less than 24 h after @patrickbrownont was elected Mayor. #ONpoli pic.twitter.com/9EIf815LDA — Colin D'Mello CTVNews (@ColinDMello) October 23, 2018

The Ford government continues on a path that is totally devoid of vision. By yet again, another attack on education, they clearly show that a tax cut that is not equal across the board is more important to them then the future potential that higher education can bring. — Ray Leech (@RayLeech) October 24, 2018