Halton approves McMaster expansion

Halton Regional Council has endorsed McMaster's plan to expand to the region, approving a $5 million investment in the Burlington campus project and providing the final municipal funding required for the plan to proceed.

McMaster's expansion includes the construction of a new Centre for Advanced Management Studies on the South Service Road in Burlington. In addition, a regional family medical teaching unit and clinic will be established and a new affiliation with Joseph Brant Hospital will be created.

The regional approval follows the city of Burlington's decision last fall to also invest $5 million in the project.

“McMaster is deeply appreciative of this wise and visionary investment,” says president Peter George. “With the Region's investment confirmed, and the city of Burlington's established leadership and support, we can now move forward.”

The Centre for Advanced Management Studies will be home to the DeGroote School of Business MBA program and a newly-expanded executive education initiative. A preliminary site plan has been approved by the city for the Centre to be located on the South Service Road east of Walkers Line.

“With this approval, we're able to begin to grow Halton's knowledge-based economy,” says Paul Bates, Dean of the DeGroote School of Business. “The visionary investments from the Region and City will produce deeper pools of skilled workers to fuel future growth.”

The Family Medical Teaching Unit will be the hub for McMaster's family medicine program in Halton. Patients will be treated at a clinic located in downtown Burlington. Family medicine residents will be placed in physician's offices across Halton.

The affiliation between McMaster and Joseph Brant Hospital is in its early discussion phase.