Working to save Algonquin College programs

Algonquin College has been hard hit financially on two fronts: an 11 year tuition freeze and a sharp reduction in the number of foreign student visas. Both of these factors have made Algonquin's finances untenable, and the college's response has been to cut some of their most successful programs:

List of Recommended Suspended Programs by School

Algonquin Centre for Construction Excellence (ACCE)

Sustainable Architectural Design

Horticultural Industries

Horticulture Techniques – Apprenticeship

Pembroke Campus (Pemb)

Business (Program still offered at the Ottawa Campus and AC Online)

Business Fundamentals (Program still offered at the Ottawa Campus and AC Online)

Computer Programming (Program still offered at the Ottawa Campus and AC Online)

Environmental Management and Assessment (Program still offered at the Ottawa Campus)

School of Advanced Technology (SAT)
Manufacturing Engineering Technician

Faculty of Arts and Media Design (FAMD)
Pathways to Indigenous Empowerment (New Indigenous Studies programs offered)

Applied Museum Studies

Design Foundations

General Arts and Science – Aboriginal (New Indigenous Studies programs offered)

Journalism

Music, Media and Film Foundations

General Arts and Science (except English for Academic Purposes)

Music Industry Arts

Illustration and Concept Art

School of Business and Hospitality (SOBH)

Bachelor of Culinary Arts & Food Science (Honours)

Bartending

Business Development and Sales

Hospitality – Hotel and Restaurant Operations Management

Tourism – Travel

Law Clerk

Event Management

Financial Services

Paralegal

School of Health Studies (SOHS)

Pre-Health Pathway to Certificates and Diplomas

Pre-Health Pathway to Advanced Diplomas and Degrees (Program still offered at our Pembroke Campus)

School of Wellness, Public Safety & Community Studies (SWPSCS)

Recreation and Leisure Services

Fitness and Health Promotion (Program still offered through AC Online)

Many of these programs provide well-trained staff to City of Ottawa departments, including horticulturalists in Public Works; Museums Studies grads in our municipal museums like the Nepean Museum; pre-health grads into our Paramedic programs; Paralegals into our Legal Department, and many more.

At the same time, the local business community is well aware that Algonquin grads make excellent employees.

To help save these important programs, I have taken two steps:

A letter to the Minister of Colleges and Universities

A Motion to Council (adopted unanimously Feb 11, 2026) for staff to analyze the potential impacts of these cuts and report them to the Minister and Algonquin Board of Governors.

I will keep working with students, faculty, and support staff to ensure that Algonquin remains a strong and viable institution for our College Ward community.

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The transition to monitoring operations does not signal the end of the City’s recovery efforts. The ECC has established an integrated task force to maintain situational awareness and coordinate access to recovery programs and services. The task force will support consistent, accessible, and equitable personalized support for affected residents throughout the recovery period.

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Election Blackout Period

The City’s Election-Related Resources Policy (ERRP) and its procedures prohibit Members of Council who are seeking re-election in a municipal election from using City resources such as office budgets and staff for newsletters and general communications from August 27, 2026, up to and including October 26, 2026 (known as the “blackout period”). As a sitting Member of Council, I must adhere to the City’s ERRP, meaning that this website will not be updated during the blackout period. My office remains open to deal with day-to-day constituency matters.

What’s next with sewer and stormwater facilities?

I’m hearing from a lot of residents who want answers about why flooding happened, and how we can prevent it from happening again. I certainly want those answers as well.

There won’t be a simple fix. 25 neighbourhoods have been dramatically affected and each had their own particular contexts. The City needs to examine the different local factors that may have contributed to flooding.

Working to save Algonquin College programs

List of Recommended Suspended Programs by School

Latest posts

August 14 2026 Extreme Weather Operations

Election Blackout Period

What’s next with sewer and stormwater facilities?

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