H NORTHERN LIGHTS COLLEGE MAR20 2012 OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT 11401 — 8th Street BC V1G 4G2 NORTHERN CRFc LIGHTS Telephone 250-782-5251 • Tollfree 1-866-463-6652 COLLEGE Fax 250-782-5233 B.C.’s Energy TMCollege nlc.bc.ca

March 12, 2012

Chair Karen Goodings Peace River Regional District Box 810 DAWSON CREEKBCV1G 4H8

Dear$!3air Gc6dings:

I am writing in regard to a series of recent news articles that have been published over the last week regarding a proposal by Canfor and the BIDGroup of Companies for a new Trades Training Institute in Prince George, B.C. I feel it is important to provide you with some clarification since Northern Lights College (NLC) is referenced in at least one article asa potential partner and supporter of the initiative.

The Canfor proposal — as outlined in numerous media reports after a presentation to Prince George City Council on Monday, March 5 —would see the conversion of Canfor’s Rustad Mill into a new Trades Training Centre in Prince George.

Post-secondary education institutions, (CNC) and Institute of Technology (BCIT), were listed in reports as being part of the proposal. Some reports included reference to a scheduled th meeting for last Friday, March 9 where other institutions, including NLC, were invited to talk about the plan for the new Trades Training Centre.

While NLCis pleased to note the interest and commitment on the part of Canfor and the BID Group to collaborate with northern post-secondary institutions and contribute to the work required to address the looming skills shortage, we respectfully disagree that part of the solution is the construction of a new Trades Training Centre in Prince George.

Recent provincial budget announcements point to status quo or declining levels of funding for post-secondary education in British Columbia over the next few years. This will result in budget pressures across our system. If there were any funds available for investment in increasing the capacity for meeting the trades training needs in the North, then NLC contends that they would need to be invested in a way to allow the three existing northern colleges to engage collectively in:

• analyzing effectively the skills gap and labour market supply and demand for the North and responding appropriately; • improving the quality of current facilities and program equipment, where necessary; and • improving access and support services for students across all of our campuses.

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We do not have space issues, and therefore do not require the construction of a new institute. We have, and will continue to have, capacity issues if available investments are not made in supporting the colleges that are already serving local and regional needs — particularly in the Northeast and in the Northwest — where the bulk of the current and proposed economic activity is taking place.

In December, NLCprovided a letter of support for a proposal called NorthTech submitted to the Province of British Columbia. NLCsupported the NorthTech concept because it proposed a sharing of expertise and the enhancement of current and future ‘Centres of Excellence’ at the province’s northern colleges. It was not a proposal for the construction of a new Trades Training Institute.

At NLC, we continue to believe in the importance of partnership and collaboration in the provision of regionally appropriate and financially sustainable post-secondary education programs and services. We have a strong history of working in partnership and cooperation with a wide variety of government, education, industry and community partners. We intend to continue building on these relationships in order to develop new and innovative ways of delivering programs and services to our diverse and geographically widespread stakeholders.

We remain open to engaging in a dialogue with our Ministries, with our Communities and with our Northern Partners as we strive to continue meeting local needs with local solutions. Should you have any questions regarding the recent news articles, or regarding NLC’sposition in this matter, please contact me at 250-784-7500.

Respectfully submitted,

Laurie Rancourt President and CEO NORTHERNLIGHTSCOLLEGE

cc: Mayor L.Ackerman, City of Fort St. John Mayor K.Anderson, District of Hudson’s Hope Mayor D. Wren, District of Mayor M. Bernier, City of Dawson Creek Mayor M. Nichols, District of Chetwynd Mayor F. iarvis, District of Taylor Mayor L. Fynn, Village of Pouce Coupe Mayor B. Streeper, Northern Rockies Regional Municipality

NORTHERN LIGHTS COLLEGE Serving Northern British columbia