Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes seek government aid to save Fleming College programs – Peterborough [Video]

The City of Peterborough, Ont., is joining the municipal push for more government supports for colleges in the wake of Fleming College’s decision to cut 29 college programs.

College officials say the program cuts, announced in April, were prompted by several funding shortfalls, notably the federal cap on international students.

The college says nearly 30 per cent of the student population at Fleming’s campuses — in Peterborough, Lindsay and Haliburton — comes from outside of Canada.

In Ontario, 141,000 student permits are expected to be approved for 2024 — a 41 per cent decrease from the more than 239,000 student visas issued in 2023.

On Monday, city council endorsed a motion moved by Coun. Joy Lachica to “encourage” both the federal and provincial governments to increase support to college boards, by “establishing metrics and direction around maintaining courses where cohorts offer a return on investment in the local economy, in small business and in filling jobs vital …