Province announces $25.3M for French-language schools in northern Ont.

The provincial government has announced it is providing $25.3 million for French-language schools in Sturgeon Falls and Hearst. (File)

The provincial government has announced it is providing $25.3 million for French-language schools in Sturgeon Falls and Hearst.

A news release from Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli said up to $18.3 million is being made available to the Conseil scolaire public du Nord-Est de l’Ontario to support the accommodation for French-language secondary students in Sturgeon Falls.

“Today’s provincial investment will support the creation of 253 student spaces in West Nipissing as part of the government’s commitment to building state-of-the-art learning spaces for Ontario students,” Fedeli is quoted as saying in a news release June 7.

The money will be spent on 253 French-language secondary students at École secondaire publique Nipissing Ouest in Sturgeon Falls.

“The Conseil scolaire public du Nord-Est de l’Ontario is confident that this announcement will ensure collaboration with the Ontario government in order to offer adequate and equitable facilities for Ontario’s French-speaking students and that they can also benefit from the same quality and educational experience as the majority of Ontario students,” Denis Labelle, board chair of the Conseil scolaire public du Nord-Est de l’Ontario, said in the release.

And $7 million is being made available for the 161-pupil place renovation and addition to create secondary rooms at École publique Passeport Jeunesse located on 9th Street in Hearst.

School has been 'growing continuously'

“These investments will allow us to better meet the needs of the school communities of École publique Passeport Jeunesse in Hearst, which has been growing continuously since its opening more than 10 years ago,” Labelle said.

“The team at the Conseil scolaire public du Nord-Est de l’Ontario is committed to carrying out capital projects that provide schools that meet the expectations and needs of students, their families and staff,” Yves Laliberté, director of education with Conseil scolaire public du Nord-Est de l’Ontario, said in the release.

“It is essential for us to create and maintain learning environments that promote the well-being and success of our students while stimulating the development of the pride, culture and identity of our Francophone communities.”

The overall spending, which the province said is the highest ever made in a single year, “supports the creation of more than 27,000 new student spaces and more than 1,700 licensed child care spaces at schools across Ontario.”

"I'm proud to be part of a government that is investing in the north," Timmins MPP George Pirie said in the release.

"We want northern communities to grow and that means we have to invest in the infrastructure they need to thrive. Students deserve modern learning spaces and that's exactly what this investment provides."