The plan for the future of Ontario’s post-secondary education as outlined by Dalton McGuinty’s government leans on foreign students and computers.

An initiative by the McGuinty government was released in an address from the throne on Monday The Open Ontario Plan, which seeks to increase access to post-secondary education in Ontario over the next five years, focuses on improving programs for international and online students as well as increasing overall enrolment.

“The choices we make during the next five years will be decisive in the life of our province,” McGuinty, Premier of Ontario, said in a press release. “Growing our economy — growing stronger — requires Ontario to be open to change, open to opportunities and open to our new world.”

The five-year initiative begins with adding 20,000 new students before September, and continues with another 100,000 over the coming years, increasing the percentage of Ontarians with post-secondary degrees from 62 to 70.

“I’d say these are certainly achievable goals,” Dan Moulton, president of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance, said. “Right now we have one of the highest [enrolment rates] in Canada, and I think through committed funding by the government we can see enrolment increase at that rate.”

While Moulton feels these goals are realistic, others feel they’ve heard this speech before.

“Our concern with this promise is that we look back at past throne speeches and look at all the things that have been promised — those promises haven’t been fulfilled,” Norm Miller, finance critic for the Progressive Conservative party, said. “He doesn’t have a good track record.”

The Open Ontario Plan not only seeks to create opportunities for students in Ontario, but it also promises to increase the number of international students in the province. McGuinty intends on adding another 50 per cent to the current 37,000 international students over the next five years.

“Our concern is that there’s a huge increase in the number of students wanting to go to community colleges in Ontario,” Miller said. “There’s a 50 per cent increase in applications, and if we’re also trying to increase the number of spots for foreign students, will there be enough for students in Ontario?”

Though Miller was afraid the increase in international students will be problematic for Ontarians, Moulton believes the initiative will be beneficial for the province in the long run.

“Its important to think about our future as a leader in [the] knowledge economy,” Moulton said. “Not only do [international students] add to the education experience at our universities, but they, by and large, stay in Canada once they’re finished at university. There’s certainly an educational and economy benefit to bringing more international students to Ontario.”