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Today, readers are discussing The Ontario government’s rejection of Ryerson University’s bid to fund a new law school. Readers are also responding to Lawrence Martin’s column Gerontocracy rules in Washington. Fresher minds prevail in Ottawa.

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Ryerson University could still proceed with the law school if it ran a full cost-recovery program.Chris Young/The Canadian Press

This is a sensible decision by the government. It does make me question those at Ryerson who thought another law school was a good idea. There has been a glut for a few years now. - Mr. Potato Head

In response to Mr. Potato Head:

It’s a good question and a problem for decades. We added teachers' colleges and faculty when there were no teaching jobs, and under supplied doctors for decades. The problem points to a lack of aggregate planning for education facilities in the province. I wouldn’t worry about B.A. programs, but direct occupational programs need much more careful management than has existed. The type of planning that is done is based solely on attracting candidates, and that allocates scarce resources from where they are needed to where they are not. - slofstra

A very good decision. All published projections indicate a glut of lawyers in the coming years. Producing even more would just result in more un - or underemployed people struggling to pay off a mountain of debt. - Sambo42

While the Conservative government made a poor decision to cancel the satellite campuses in Brampton, Milton, and Markham, they have probably made the right decision for this proposed expansion. - J.K. Galbraith

We need more plumbers, carpenters, electricians and fewer lawyers. - NETNUB

Happy to see that the government--for once--is looking at the job market before approving new universities. - ctheorist

What else readers are talking about today:

Gerontocracy rules in Washington. Fresher minds prevail in Ottawa by Lawrence Martin

What a stark choice: the under-imaginative leadership of the experienced, or the under-informed leadership of the youth. How is under-informed creativity a better option for planning than knowledge-laden consideration? And at what point do seniors - who have children and grandchildren - suddenly have no concern for their offspring's well-being? - George Bay

A bit of a false dichotomy. Yes, youth has energy and vision that age may be lacking. Age has the perspective of years, let’s call it wisdom, that youth most certainly lacks. I’d suggest we need a productive mix of young and old to make far-sighted decisions that will benefit the country for years to come. Good luck finding this in any of our current political leaders, either federally provincially. - Don227

From the Comments is designed to highlight interesting and thoughtful contributions from our readers. Some comments have been edited for clarity. Everyone can read the comments but only subscribers will be able to contribute. Thank you to everyone furthering debate across our site.

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