LAURIE WEIR
Perth’s Algonquin College campus has been a cornerstone of the small rural town since 1970, but the looming closure of the 50-year-old institution has prompted town council to take action.
During a committee of the whole meeting on Jan. 14, Mayor Judy Brown addressed the situation, attributing the closure to tuition fee caps and limits on international student enrolment. “That’s a significant source of income,” she said.
Brown noted receiving suggestions for reusing the campus, including as a daycare or additional healthcare facility. By the time the campus closes in 2026 — projected for either the spring or fall — the college’s deficit will reach $60 million.
“I’m going to continue to work with Algonquin and those interested in repurposing the campus. It is the intention of the college to declare it surplus. That basically sunsets the situation,” she said.
Coun. Gary Waterfield expressed sadness over the announcement. “It appears there is little we can do as a council,” he said, adding concerns about the loss of tax revenue.
Chief administrative officer Michael Touw clarified that the college pays a nominal payment in lieu of taxes as a provincial entity. “But that will be the least of the impact,” he said.
Waterfield suggested working closely with the college during the sale of the land to ensure the buyer aligns with the town’s needs.
Coun. Jim Boldt raised concerns about similar financial challenges potentially affecting other campuses. He proposed sending a letter to MP Scott Reid and MPP John Jordan, urging them to advocate for increased funding or relaxed student enrolment rules.
“Rather than roll over and play dead, I’d rather we as a council, at the very least, send a letter expressing our concern and asking for help from both levels of government,” Boldt said.
Deputy Mayor Ed McPherson echoed the sentiment, suggesting the campus could be repurposed as a multi-use facility, including continuing some college programming.
“I think the time has come to lean on our federal MP,” McPherson said. “It wasn’t his government that put these new rules in place, but we’re certainly going to pay the price for it.”
Touw recommended appealing as a delegation to the appropriate minister at the Good Roads conference from March 30 to April 1, as it was too late to address the matter at the ongoing Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) conference.
Council unanimously agreed to send a letter to Algonquin College outlining the closure’s impact on the community, to contact the MP and MPP, and to send a delegation to the Good Roads conference.
Programs at the Perth campus will continue until the end of the 2026 spring term, after which they will move to the Ottawa campus. The future of the property, which spans at least five acres, is unclear. Algonquin College owns the land, and discussions about redevelopment or sale have yet to begin.
College president Claude Brulé confirmed the closure recommendation will go before the Board of Governors in February. Brulé cited financial pressures from provincial funding shortfalls and the federal cap on international students. The board’s decision is expected in the coming months, but financial realities make a reversal unlikely.
