TIMMINS — With the provincial funding model and federal cap on international students creating challenges for a local college, the business community will feel the effects, but the president and CEO says the school is here to stay.
Northern College is even looking to grow and improve its offerings at its Timmins campus, Mitch Dumas told the crowd at the Mayor's State of the City event March 26.
In January, Northern College announced it's predicting a $6-million deficit in 2025-26 and expects it to double to $12 million in the 2026-27 school year.
The bleak financial forecast, the school has said, is a result of federal changes to the international student study permit and post-graduate work permit eligibility.
The school has already said there will be staffing cuts, and Dumas said today they've made "difficult decisions" about what programs are offered.
"Rest assured that Northern College is here to stay. We've weathered changes like this before, and we will weather this as well," he said.
For nearly a decade, he said, the school has helped draw newcomers to the region.
"Our grads have gone on to build businesses, lend their skill sets to our critical in-demand sectors, set down roots and became contributing members of our communities," Dumas said.
"The reality is that the talent pipeline has been greatly reduced, and the effects of that reduction will be felt by each of you and the businesses that you represent.
"You will feel it as you seek to hire skilled professionals to grow your business, and as you assess the growth opportunities ahead of you."
With a positive capital reserve, the college is looking to add enhancements.
They're looking at in-kind funding options for a modernized Health Sciences wing to replace the existing D wing area, which is the original temporary campus building in Timmins.
They're also "laying the groundwork" for an indoor sports complex. They recently ran an online survey about the proposed facility, but did not respond to interview requests to talk about the project.
