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Denley: This plan to save Perth trades school deserves full support
Denley: This plan to save Perth trades school deserves full support

Ottawa Citizen

time3 days ago

  • Business
  • Ottawa Citizen

Denley: This plan to save Perth trades school deserves full support

This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Algonquin College will shut down its building trades program in the Eastern Ontario town, but a local entrepreneur has pitched a better version. Doug Ford should clear the path to make it happen. Toby Shannan is a life-long Perth resident willing to put his money where his mouth is in order to save the building trades program in his community. Photo by Megan Tysick Thanks to the vision and financial clout of a Perth entrepreneur, the heritage trades program in the Eastern Ontario town could be saved, but it's going to take some quick and creative action by the Doug Ford government. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office. Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account. Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles from Elizabeth Payne, David Pugliese, Andrew Duffy, Bruce Deachman and others. Plus, food reviews and event listings in the weekly newsletter, Ottawa, Out of Office. Unlimited online access to Ottawa Citizen and 15 news sites with one account. Ottawa Citizen ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Since 1989, Algonquin College has operated the trades program at its Perth campus. Now, facing a $60-million deficit in 2025-26, the college has decided to close the campus and transfer the program to Ottawa. Algonquin is going through the required provincial process of offering the Perth campus to other public organizations, but it's doubtful that any of them will take it up. The college has already engaged a real estate company and expects the campus to be listed soon. Selling might make sense for Algonquin, but it will be a multi-million-dollar loss to Perth's economy and to taxpayers. The federal and provincial governments gave $10 million in 2009 to build the heritage carpentry facility in Perth. Toby Shannan, former chief operating officer of tech firm Shopify, says the campus is 'a very small part of Algonquin, but a very big part of Perth.' Campus salaries alone inject more than $3 million into the local economy, he says. Shannan is trying to save the local trades program because he's a life-long Perth resident who wants the best for his community. His father, son and son-in-law are all builders, so he understands the need. Shannan has a plan to save the Perth campus and its local program with his own money. If necessary, he is willing to buy the campus for market value, which he estimates is between $10 million and $15 million. He would create a non-profit corporation to run the trade school, endowing it with enough money to guarantee its success. Shannan would maintain the heritage trades training, but expand the schools offerings so it can train other tradespeople and upgrade the skills of those already in the trades. Shannan's plan faces obstacles, such as competition from Algonquin itself, once it moves its government-subsidized heritage trades training back to Ottawa. Shannan's school would need to charge a higher tuition because it would have no government support. Shannan says he's not afraid of the competition because there is ample student demand and he believes that he can offer a premium program with better work opportunities and stronger links to industry. As he puts it, 'You have to be smarter, more agile and more connected to industry.' This advertisement has not loaded yet. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. To make it happen, the Ford government will have to rethink a system that's focused on process, not results. The property is Algonquin's to dispose of. The provincial government's only formal role is to ensure that the proceeds are reinvested in another capital project. It's not a recipe for the best outcome. Local politicians are behind Shannan's plan. He has met with political leaders at Queen's Park at least a half-dozen times and received some interest, but no action yet. It would be hard to imagine a project more in the Progressive Conservative wheelhouse. Ford's government has been aggressive in expanding skilled trades training, supports regional economic development, and generally favours private sector involvement. Let's put this in a somewhat larger context. The provincial government and Ontario's community colleges have undermined what was a good training system. The Ford government gives colleges the lowest per capita student support in the country. Colleges made up the gap with over-reliance on foreign students and their high tuition. Now that the federal government has slowed the foreign student flow, community colleges across the province are facing deficits. That's how we got to a position where a community asset like the Perth campus, paid for by taxpayers, has become something Algonquin can no longer afford to operate. That despite the fact that training Ontario students for work is the college system's core responsibility. It's an easy problem to fix. The Ford government should take over the Perth campus, lease it to Shannan and direct the lease money to Algonquin. Everyone wins. How do you say no to a plan like that? Randall Denley is an Ottawa journalist and author. Contact him at randalldenley1@

Families speak out about Algonquin College's plan to phase out adult special needs program
Families speak out about Algonquin College's plan to phase out adult special needs program

CTV News

time14-07-2025

  • Politics
  • CTV News

Families speak out about Algonquin College's plan to phase out adult special needs program

Terry (left), Charlene (middle) and Brennan White (right) say they are 'disappointed and sad' about Algonquin College's decision to discontinue the AAADD program. (Josh Marano/CTV News Ottawa) Brennan White is currently enrolled in the Academic Assistance for Adults with Developmental Disabilities (AAADD) program at Algonquin College. The AAADD program has been offered at the college since 1997, providing academic and social skills for adults with developmental disabilities. White just finished his second year at the school but said he was 'disappointed and upset' to learn the school is phasing out the program as it faces financial challenges. The college says the program will conclude on April 30, 2026 to allow students currently enrolled to finish their studies. Brennan's mother Charlene White says the news came as a shock and adds the program is important for her son's independence. 'Brennan does love going to the (AAADD) program, it increases his independence,' Charlene White says. 'He goes on the bus to get here, he loves the college atmosphere, that is so crucial.' AAADD students are given a certificate of completion and not a formal credential approved by the Ministry of Education when they finish their studies. The college previously told CTV News Ottawa that it would be focusing on credentialed programs that align with its mandate. The program does not receive funding from the Ministry of Education. White is one of many families that are affected by the closure of the program. There are currently 73 students enrolled in the program, but no new students have been accepted for three years. 'It is a really important niche for so many young adults and adults with exceptionalities who need extra help, support with continued learning, but are certainly capable of continued learning and so this should be funded in some way, shape or form by the provincial government,' Charlene White adds. A town hall is being hosted on Thursday by Ottawa West-Nepean NDP MPP Chandra Pasma at City View United Church at 7 p.m. 'It's an opportunity for parents and those who are concerned about these program cuts to come, share the impact on their children and to talk about what we can do to fight to get this program and to have it continued,' Pasma says. White says they are planning to hold a protest later this fall. The college already announced wider cuts earlier this year, including the suspension of 41 active and dormant programs, the closure of the Perth Campus and the offering of voluntary exit packages to staff, citing a drop in international student enrollment and a tuition freeze. Staff say enrolment is projected to drop 11 per cent in 2025-26. Algonquin College reported in January that it was projecting a $32 million loss in revenue for 2024-25, and a $60 million loss in 2025-26 and $93 million for 2026-27. The board of governors approved the $479 million 2025-26 school year budget last month, using $41 million in reserves to cover the multi-million-dollar budget deficit and to support projects and initiatives at the college for the next school year. With files from CTV News Ottawa's Josh Pringle and William Eltherington

Cuts at Ontario colleges leading to nearly 10,000 job losses, union says
Cuts at Ontario colleges leading to nearly 10,000 job losses, union says

Toronto Sun

time09-07-2025

  • Business
  • Toronto Sun

Cuts at Ontario colleges leading to nearly 10,000 job losses, union says

Published Jul 09, 2025 • 1 minute read Algonquin College in Ottawa. Photo by Jean Levac / POSTMEDIA The Ontario Public Service Employees Union says close to 10,000 college faculty and staff have either been let go or are projected to lose their jobs amid hundreds of program cancellations and suspensions since last year. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The union representing some 55,000 college faculty and support staff says that amounts to 'one of the largest mass layoffs in Ontario's history' as colleges grapple with a funding crisis. An arbitrated faculty contract between the union and the College Employer Council released last week says the federal government's cap on international students led to a dramatic decline in enrolment and tuition revenue, and the cancellation or suspension of more than 600 college programs. The document shows 23 of 24 colleges in Ontario have reported a 48 per cent decrease in first-semester enrolment of international students from September 2023 to September 2024. It says 19 colleges have reported current and planned staff reductions totalling more than 8,000 employees as of June, noting the data was incomplete as some colleges hadn't reported their layoffs. The union says the layoffs and program suspensions will have generational impacts and college workers are prepared to fight back against the cuts. Toronto & GTA Olympics Uncategorized Sunshine Girls Toronto Blue Jays

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