NorQuest College is getting a facelift — thanks in part to a $1.38-million investment from the federal government.
The college will put in an additional $1.87 million to upgrade the roof and windows at the South Learning Centre. The money will also be used to establish the NorQuest Innovation Studio, which will provide a space for business, industry and community partners to work with students to address industry skills gaps.
Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Amarjeet Sohi made the announcement in Edmonton Friday morning.
“NorQuest is one of those organizations that really changes people’s lives,” Sohi said. “I have seen students who are new Canadians or students from Indigenous communities that I came to know, who attended NorQuest, and the education and opportunities that NorQuest provided to them to succeed in their education… has really transformed their lives, which in turn transforms our communities.”
READ MORE: Federal and provincial governments commit $500M to Alberta highway projects
The federal government said the money will create jobs, expand research and foster innovation, but Conservative MP for Edmonton-Riverbend, Matt Jeneroux, said the announcement falls short for Albertans, calling it “more smoke and mirrors from the federal Liberals.”
“Previous Infrastructure announcements from the federal Liberals haven’t created any jobs, and haven’t been about significant infrastructure improvements,” Jeneroux said in a media release Friday.
“Money isn’t flowing, real core infrastructure projects are nowhere to be seen, and no jobs are being created,” he continued. “The only thing the federal Liberals have committed to are photo-ops and ribbon-cutting, rather than using their infrastructure spending to create jobs like they promised.”
Friday’s announcement came one day after the federal government committed $255 million for 96 highway projects in Alberta.