• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

TOWNSHIP OF LAURENTIAN VALLEY COUNCIL TO: Mayor Wilson and Council FROM: Lauree J. Armstrong, MCIP, RPP, Township Planner CC: Dean Sauriol, CAO/Clerk DATE: April 10, 2014 RE: Request to Premier Wynne to Establish 2-Year Moratorium on Closure of Kemptville College to Allow for Fall 2014 Enrollment and Time for the Kemptville College Renewal Task Force to Develop a Solution SUBJECT: Planning Memorandum No. 1 RECOMMENDATION: That Council adopt the Resolution as attached to this Report Requesting a 2-year moratorium on closure of Kemptville College to allow for Fall 2014 Enrollment and Time for Kemptville College Renewal Task Force to develop a solution. COMMENTS: Further to a special meeting of the County of Renfrew Agriculture Economic Development Committee on which the Township Planner/Economic Development Officer regularly participates and to which the Mayor was invited to attend to discuss the particular issue of concern to the agricultural community of Renfrew County, a recommendation came forward that the County and other municipalities in Renfrew County support efforts to stop the closure of Kemptville College. One of the key issues that was identified was the need to ensure that enrollment continues for the next two years so that students could be assured of completing the programs and also to not lose the momentum of attendance at the College while a solution is developed. The Kemptville College Renewal Task Force has been struck which includes representatives from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, Algonquin College, St. Lawrence College, public and private leaders and representatives. There appears to be a real opportunity to develop a solution but given the surprise timing of the closure announcement by the University of Guelph, the moratorium is required to work out how this can happen. The importance of the training offered by Kemptville College in the food, fuel and bio-technology sectors was noted and in particular the impact the presence of such an institution in Eastern Ontario has on the economy of Renfrew County in terms of providing opportunities to provide training to youth in the area that would assist in retaining them in Eastern Ontario rather than losing them to other areas of the province. The programs at the College also include an active agricultural component that provides hands-on training. Programs for diesel equipment mechanics are also important in the growing industry and to provide skills for youth. With the increasing complexity of farming as a business, having somewhere to gain skills and training nearby on agri-business provides an opportunity for young farmers to be better prepared to have sustainable operations that are cost effective. The growing fuel and bio-technology sectors are also important and again contribute to having opportunities for youth to acquire training and for Renfrew County to tap in to a pool of skilled employees. The loss of Kemptville College and what it offers in Eastern Ontario would impact jobs, the sustainability of farming Page 1 of 2 COUNCIL RE: Request to Premier Wynne to Establish 2-Year Moratorium on Closure of Kemptville College to Allow for Fall 2014 Enrollment and Time for the Kemptville College Renewal Task Force to Develop a Solution SUBJECT: Planning Memorandum No. 1 operations and agri-business and opportunities for youth retention in area with an aging demographic in the work force. The issue is also be put forward to the Eastern Ontario Wardens Caucus to also assist in supporting the efforts to develop solutions to keep Kemptville College and what it has to offer in Eastern Ontario. The County of Renfrew and other Renfrew County municipalities will be considering a similar resolution. SUMMARY Staff recommends Council adopts the Resolution as attached to this report. PEOPLE CONSULTED: Mayor Wilson and County of Renfrew Agriculture Economic Development Committee FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: N/A ATTACHMENTS: 1. Draft Resolution for Adoption. 2. Presentation by Ray Pender, Councillor Township of Admaston/Bromley and Member of County of Renfrew Agriculture Economic Development Committee 3. Media Articles related to Closure of Kemptville College Respectfully Submitted Township of Laurentian Valley “ORIGINAL SIGNED BY” Lauree J. Armstrong, MCIP, RPP Township Planner Page 2 of 2 Corporation of the Township of Laurentian Valley Council Resolution Form Moved By: ___________________________________________ Seconded By: ___________________________________________ BE IT RESOLVED THAT: WHEREAS on October 7, 2013, the Premier, in her capacity as Minister of Agriculture and Food, challenged the agriculture and agri-food sector to double its growth rate and create 120,000 new jobs in Ontario by 2020; AND WHEREAS on March 12, 2014, the University of Guelph announced the relocation of academic and research programs from its Kemptville Campus to the Guelph and Ridgetown Campuses, effectively ending a 97 year tradition of excellence in agricultural education, research and innovation in Eastern Ontario; AND WHEREAS the closure of the Kemptville campus denies access to post- secondary agricultural training east of Guelph, and reduces the number of skilled trades program seats in Eastern Ontario; AND WHEREAS as a result of this relocation of academic programs, intake to these programs at the Kemptville campus has been suspended for the fall 2014 semester; AND WHEREAS the decision by the University of Guelph, supported the Province of Ontario, will result in the elimination of over 100 jobs at the Kemptville Campus; AND WHEREAS local stakeholders were not afforded the opportunity to participate in developing alternative solutions to the closure of the Kemptville Campus by the end of 2015; AND WHEREAS at a meeting held on March 15, 2014, upwards of 400 local stakeholders asserted the critical importance of the Kemptville Campus to the continued success of the food, fuel and agri-food industry, skilled trades and overall economic development in Eastern Ontario; Page 1 of 2 AND WHEREAS access to research facilities and expertise is necessary for the food, fuel and bio-technology sector to innovate and succeed in the global economy and maintain networks that have allowed food producers and the processors to keep pace in an industry that is continuously changing; AND WHEREAS the continued access to food, fuel and bio-technology sector training opportunities within Eastern Ontario is critical to the economic health and sustainability of the agri-business sector, related jobs and the retention of youth in Renfrew County and rural Eastern Ontario; AND WHEREAS in a News Release on March 27, 2014, on the Ontario Government’s initiative to help more students pursue post-secondary education as part of the Ontario Government’s economic plan, Premier Wynne stated “We are committed to helping more students get the postsecondary education they need to succeed. We want to bridge Ontario’s skills gap, and ensure that young people are equipped with all the right skills no matter where they live.” AND WHEREAS Premier Wynne confirmed on April 8, 2014, that the programs at the Kemptville Campus are not being cancelled and as such the Ontario Government is looking for local solutions; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Township of Laurentian Valley urges in strongest possible way that the Honourable Kathleen Wynne, in both her capacity as Premier of Ontario and Minister of Agriculture and Food, immediately issue a 2-year moratorium on the closure of the University of Guelph's Kemptville Campus and reinstate the intake to academic programs for the fall 2014 semester; AND FURTHER BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council of the Township of Laurentian Valley supports the efforts of the Kemptville College Renewal Task Force and the absolute need for the moratorium on the closure to provide time to develop sustainable and viable solutions to preserve the delivery of existing academic and research programs at Kemptville College. Carried: ________ Defeated: ___________ Withdrawn: ____________ Declaration of Interest: __________ Recorded Vote: _____________ Yea Voting Nay J. Wilson S. Bennett Mayor: _____________________ J. Gauthier G. Hodgkinson Date: April 15, 2014 D. Robinson J. Sheedy Motion #: RM14-04- A. Wren Page 2 of 2 4/9/2014 Kemptville College Future Appears Grim Ray Pender Introduction • What does Kemptville College mean to Eastern Ontario? • Kemptville College has approximately 550 Students • The college offers diverse training in Dairy, Equine, Horticulture, Heavy Equipment, Trades, Extension, Food & Nutrition. 1 4/9/2014 Dr. Claude Naud • Appointed Director of College 2010 -First non-academic director in school history • Hired to improve the College's programs • He was very successful - Found Partners for certain courses - Improved many of the facilities • Mid-February he resigned for personal reasons Help Wanted • Ralph Pierce, production editor of The Country Guide, says farmers cannot wait 10 years to build a work force. • "More difficult for farmers to find the employees they need for their own farms as well as companies that farmers rely on (seed and chemical companies and equipment makers)" 2 4/9/2014 Quiet Revolution • Mike Bachner, AgCall Human Resources Managing Partner and Recruiter for Eastern Canada - "Its alarming, and its already happening" - "Simply put, agriculture's traditional sources cannot meet the demand" - Name change from "Agri-Food Sector to the Agri-Food, Fuel and Biotech Sector" • What is the Solution? - With the sophistication and diversity of the industry, along with advanced technology there are different forces at play. - Changing Demographics Where do we go from here? • The agra-food sector is in need of qualified skilled workers. • "Agriculture is already suffering from the lack of attention to detail on the part of agra-buisness. If we don't deal with it, it is only going to get worse. It should be an easy sell especially to corporate agriculture, they're simply filling their own employment pipeline for the future. Maybe it should come back to industry, where Scotiabank or Monsanto or Dupont should step up.

Load more

  13

Copy Link