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.

Latest posts

Motion on reconstruction fee relief

Today, I seconded a motion by Mayor Sutcliffe to provide residents who are rebuilding after the July 1, 2026 flooding with relief from fees associated with construction.

Read the full motion

WHEREAS the extreme weather events of July 1, August 10 and August 12, 2026,
caused significant disruption, property damage, and financial hardship for
residents across the city, impacting more than 6,500 properties; and

WHEREAS the City’s Revenue Services team has implemented temporary
administrative measures to support affected residents, including the suspension
of collection activities, a pause on interest accumulation and related late fees,
enhanced customer service accommodations, and account-level notifications for
impacted properties; and

Inquiry about ICDs and catch basins

Today, I tabled an Inquiry to ask for details about Inlet Control Devices, why they were installed in west end catch basins, how they're maintained, and whether they may have contributed to the July 1 flooding.

Read the full Inquiry

Inquiry:
Following the July 1, 2026 flooding of thousands of west end Ottawa homes,
businesses, and public facilities, and again after the flooding on August 10, 2026,
many residents noted that stormwater drainage through municipal catch basins
was inhibited by Inlet Control Devices (ICDs) which had been installed by the
City.
Several also noted that the ICDs were plugged with dirt and debris, completely
blocking the catch basin from draining storm water.
The apparent result of the ICDs, whether blocked or not, was to cause overland
flooding that entered homes.

Motion to examine extreme weather patterns in Nepean/West Ottawa

Today, I moved a motion, seconded by Mayor Sutcliffe, to consult with weather experts to determine how College Ward and environs are being impacted by extreme weather so we can plan to improve our infrastructure and maintenance routines.

See the full motion.

WHEREAS over the past several years, Nepean has suffered several extreme
weather events including the 2018 tornados; 2022 derecho; the 2023 ice storm;
the July 1, 2026 rainstorm and floods; and the August 12, 2026 windstorm; and

WHEREAS the City of Ottawa’s Climate Projections for the National Capital
Region (2020) indicate that Ottawa is projected to see rising temperatures, more
rainfall and more extreme weather events; and

WHEREAS recent and historical weather patterns suggest that the affected areas
of Nepean may experience localized weather and climatic conditions that differ
from other parts of the city;

WHEREAS the City of Ottawa uses climate and weather reports when designing
its infrastructure standards, infrastructure maintenance routines and resident
support programs; and

Working to save Algonquin College programs

List of Recommended Suspended Programs by School

Latest posts

Motion on reconstruction fee relief

Inquiry about ICDs and catch basins

Motion to examine extreme weather patterns in Nepean/West Ottawa

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