Ontario town reeling as student cap forces college to close campus

An Ontario college that has known as a small city residence since 1970 is closing its campus given the crippling monetary woes it’s dealing with.

Algonquin Faculty has knowledgeable its staff and college students in Perth, positioned between Kingston and Ottawa, that by the top of August 2026, it should shutter its campus there.

Judy Brown, the mayor of the city of roughly 6,500, stated in an announcement Monday that Perth “will deeply really feel the loss” of Algonquin Faculty.

“For over 5 many years, the Perth Campus has offered invaluable instructional alternatives, formed numerous careers, and strengthened the material of our city. Its heritage trades packages, specifically, have left a long-lasting legacy that may be seen within the stunning heritage buildings that outline our group,” Brown stated.

“Schooling alternatives in rural communities are important. They be sure that individuals can be taught, develop, and thrive with out leaving their hometowns.”

Claude Brulé, president and CEO of Algonquin Faculty, stated in a Jan. 9 discover that the worldwide scholar cap and provincial funding shortfalls have created “unprecedented monetary challenges” for all the post-secondary sector.

Brulé stated workers have been reviewing the college’s operations, and have projected Algonquin will lose $32 million in income this fiscal yr. With out mitigation measures, akin to closing its Perth campus, Brulé stated on a cash-flow foundation, the school anticipates a deficit of $60 million for 2025-26, growing to $96 million for 2026-27.

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“These are essentially the most difficult fiscal occasions within the school’s historical past. I perceive how morale is being negatively impacted and staff and learners could also be feeling involved and anxious as they await updates,” Brulé stated.

“These selections are being rigorously thought-about with a concentrate on minimizing impacts on staff and learners whereas sustaining our dedication to offering distinctive studying experiences for years to come back.”

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Virtually a yr after the variety of worldwide college students coming to Canada was capped, a number of faculties have introduced large adjustments and suspended packages, blaming the strikes on the discount in these college students they relied closely upon for funding.

The cap has resulted in a drop of just about 50 per cent in admissions for Ontario faculties and a $752-million drop in working spending throughout numerous campuses.

Sheridan Faculty, one of many largest post-secondary schooling establishments within the province, suspended 40 packages in November 2024. Seneca Faculty, one other main participant, is quickly closing its Markham, Ont., campus altogether due to an enrolment “decline.” At Mohawk Faculty, 20 per cent of the executive workers had been let go and 16 packages had been suspended for 2025.

Regardless of this, a spokesperson for Schools and Universities Minister Nolan Quinn told Global News last month that the province stays assured in public faculties — and their function in coaching graduates.

“We’re at present targeted on ensuring that post-secondary packages get Ontario college students into rewarding careers that deal with the province’s present and future labour market wants,” they stated.

“Our post-secondary sector goes by a rebalancing proper now and a few troublesome selections are being made by our establishments to make sure they’re in a position to proceed delivering a world-class schooling right here for college kids.”

Algonquin will probably be doing what it may well to mitigate impacts on staff and college students at Perth, Brulé stated. The advice to shut the Perth location will probably be tabled on the college’s Feb. 24 board of governors assembly.

“Packages on the Perth Campus will stay lively till the top of the 2026 Spring Time period, at which level they are going to be transferred to the Ottawa Campus,” Brulé stated.

“The school is planning to finish this transition and stop operations on the Perth Campus by the top of August 2026.”

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Brown stated the city is “dissatisfied” by Algonquin’s departure, calling the school a “cornerstone” of the group.

“Whereas we perceive the fiscal realities confronted by Algonquin Faculty — together with frozen tuition charges, funding gaps, and declining worldwide scholar enrollment as a consequence of current federal and provincial adjustments — we’ll deeply really feel the lack of these packages and the campus as a complete,” Brown added.

— with information from Isaac Callan and Colin D’Mello

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