The Ontario government has announced $90 million in funding for McMaster to create 2,769 seats for students preparing for careers in high-demand sectors.

Provincial officials announced 40,000 new seats in key economy-driving programs at Ontario colleges and universities Thursday at the McMaster Manufacturing Research Institute (MMRI).

The new seats build on the 30,000 seats announced earlier this year through a $1.7 billion investment over the next four years.

The funding will strengthen McMaster’s partnerships with the province, as well as other universities, colleges and businesses, and will help the university fulfil its commitment to improving quality of life and stoking the economy, said McMaster President Susan Tighe.

“Together with impactful research, our core mission is to provide our students with the best and most relevant education possible,” said Tighe.

“We take care to make sure our programs and learning experiences prepare our students to graduate with the qualifications employers need and which prepare our graduates to lead in the fields where they can make the greatest contributions.”

The funding will expand access to university education for students to pursue careers in fields the province has identified as important to its economic future, including science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), health care, education and AI.

It’s a targeted, strategic investment in the future of students, the national economy and Ontario’s communities, said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security.

“When we talk about building an Ontario that can compete on the global stage, that starts with building a competitive community,” Quinn said at the announcement.

“Which is why as part of this process, each school is required to work with their local businesses and put forward proposals for seats that produce the graduates that employers in their communities want and need. We know what Hamilton needs is different than what Thunder Bay needs or what Belleville needs or what Sarnia needs.”

Tighe and Quinn were joined by senior leaders from other postsecondary partners for the announcement at the MMRI, a state-of-the-art research facility where McMaster researchers and students work with Canadian industry leaders to find solutions to real-world challenges.

Paul Armstrong, president of Mohawk College, praised the longstanding partnership between McMaster and Mohawk and how it has helped establish Hamilton as an important centre for health education and innovation.

“This will help us respond to those demands by aligning and expanding programs in the area and the areas where skilled talent is most needed,” said Armstrong.

“For students, that means more opportunities to pursue an education that leads to rewarding, in-demand careers. For employers and our communities, it means a stronger pipeline of skilled, job-ready graduates for critical areas of our economy.”

The province’s investment comes at a time of “immense disruption” around the world that is causing anxiety among workers and businesses, said Daniel Tisch, president and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.

Despite that, he said he’s heard from chambers of commerce across the province that companies are choosing to invest in local workforces because of the talent coming from Ontario’s colleges and universities.

“I really believe deeply, passionately that when businesses and government and post-secondary institutions work together, Ontario advances. And when we develop the skills of our people and align them with the needs of our businesses, Ontario wins.”