A $60 million target budget could be included in the Request For Proposal (RFP) going out for the new community and recreation centre project.
That’s the recommendation from staff after going over the consultant’s report, investigating other similar and recent community centre projects and looking at construction cost guides
“It is therefore proposed that it is necessary to include a budget target of $60 Million to attract serious and broad market interest and participation in the RFP that will lead to selection of a qualified proponent to undertake a [Progressive Design Build] of the Project that meets the current expected functional program, Zero Carbon Building technical requirements and target schedule within the Target Budget,” states the report.
Staff add once the design phase of the build is underway, cost estimates will be confirmed at at least two key milestones and presented to council for consideration and direction.
Also on the agenda is councillor motion involving the impact of federal changes to international study permits.
Citing Canadore College’s ‘vital role’ in the local and provincial economy, the motion ‘strongly encourages’ Ottawa to reinstate the post-graduate work permit program and delay implementing a process requiring attestation letters with study permit applications.
Both initiatives were announced by the federal government last month with a two-year reduction in international study permits.
To implement the cap, officials said as of Jan. 22, every study permit application would also require an attestation letter from a province or territory.
The councillor motion looks to have that delayed until April.
Changes to the work permit program revolve around international students attending a private college licensed to deliver the curriculum of an associated public college.
Ottawa says they would no longer be eligible for a postgraduation work permit when they graduate.
“These programs have seen significant growth in attracting international students in recent years, though they have less oversight than public colleges and they act as a loophole with regards to post-graduation work permit eligibility,” states a January release from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
The local councillor’s motion says Canadore College will require strong domestic and international enrolment to produce graduates with job-ready skills to fill the needs of the workforce.
