Feasibility Study for a New Tecumseth Skilled-Trades Centre
Asked by Melissa Marshall · 2 months ago
The 2026 Approved Budget directs Growth and Innovation to undertake a feasibility study for a post-secondary skilled-trades centre in New Tecumseth. It appears as a single line, with no supporting rationale, cost estimate or business case. (Page 79)
Relevant context:
Ontario colleges have cut approximately 600 programs amid $1.8B in losses since the 2024 international student visa cap.
New Tecumseth is within Georgian College’s catchment area. Georgian closed its Orillia and Muskoka campuses in August 2026, consolidating programming in Barrie, and has reduced its full-time workforce by approximately 22% with projected losses of 45M and 15-25M next fiscal.
Honda’s $15B Alliston EV expansion is permanently suspended, removing a major source of projected local skilled-trades demand.
Meanwhile, The Province’s Regional Technology Development Site for Simcoe County, Barrie and Orillia is already funded and includes Georgian College, Lakehead University and Honda. New Tecumseth is not currently part of that initiative.
For each candidate:
Do you support proceeding with this feasibility study? Why or why not?
Why pursue a separate facility rather than seek a role in the regional initiative already underway? As home to the region’s anchor automotive employer, should New Tecumseth be pursuing a seat in the existing RTDS network instead, and would you support that approach?
Wendy Gabrek's answer
Yes, I support proceeding with the feasibility study. That's exactly what a feasibility study is for to determine whether there is a need, what that need looks like, what partnerships are available, what it would cost and whether it makes sense to proceed.
I believe New Tecumseth would benefit from having greater access to post-secondary education and skilled-trades training closer to home. That could make a significant difference for a single parent who needs in-class instruction but can't easily travel to Barrie, a young person who isn't ready or financially able to move away for school, someone changing careers later in life, or an apprentice who is already working and needs access to additional training.
And I don't think we should base a long-term workforce strategy around one employer or one proposed investment. Part of attracting new employers is demonstrating that we have the workforce, training opportunities and infrastructure they will need.
I also don't see this as an either/or decision when it comes to regional partnerships. If there is an opportunity for New Tecumseth to participate in an existing regional technology or training initiative, I absolutely think we should pursue it. In fact, partnerships with Simcoe County, post-secondary institutions and industry are already part of the model being explored.
What I would not support is deciding today that the Town should build and operate a stand-alone college campus regardless of cost or demand. Let the feasibility study answer those questions.
If the study shows that the better solution is a smaller training centre, shared programming, satellite classrooms, partnerships with existing colleges, or participation in a broader regional initiative, then that's the direction we should consider.
The goal shouldn't be to build a building. The goal should be to bring education, training and opportunity closer to the people who live here and to build the skilled workforce New Tecumseth will need in the future.
