During Monday's city council meeting, a motion was brought forward by Coun. Brian Swanson with regards to the fact that Moose Jaw's SIAST Palliser Campus was snubbed by both federal and provincial governments in the way of funding.
Swanson indicated that on June 12, both the federal and provincial governments provided a number of post-secondary education facilities in the province with a total of $118 million in funding as part of its Knowledge Infrastructure Program.
He said of that $118 million, the Palliser campus did not receive a single penny.
In the motion, Swanson asked Mayor Dale McBain to write to the Saskatchewan Minister of Advanced Education Rob Norris, as well as the president and CEO of SIAST, Robert McCulloch, inquiring as to why the Palliser Campus was excluded from the funding.
Swanson said of the four SIAST campuses located in Saskatchewan, Palliser was the only one not to receive funding and feels that it is the city's job to not only find out why, but also stand up for it's school.
He said with Regina receiving over $21 million, Saskatoon over $34 million and Moose Jaw nothing, it is important that the city send some form of communication to the government stating it thinks there is something amiss in its allocation of the money.
"Unless we stand up for our community, who else is going to?"
Swanson did point out that there has been money allocated to the school, by the government, at various times for other projects. However, he said money has also gone to the other schools at various times as well.
"What I am referring to in my motion, at this time, is the recent program, the Knowledge Infrastructure Program, that saw 21 post-secondary institutions in Saskatchewan receive funding but Moose Jaw receive none."
Although all of the other councillors agreed an acknowledgement had to be made to the government on this matter, it was also suggested a meeting be set up to discuss, in person, council's concerns.
As well, Coun. Regina Sagal-Hendry suggested a meeting be set up with SIAST Palliser Campus, prior to meeting with the government, to discuss what funding it requires.
Swanson said one of the main concerns he had about the lack of funding, besides the funding itself, was the lack of acknowledgement to the problem by the city.
He said the funding announcement was made almost two months back and this is the first it has been discussed.
The motion was passed with the amendment council would also request to meet with government representatives on the matter.
Lyndsay McCready can be reached at 691-1256.
