Canadian Music Programs Face Cuts, Threatening Local Scenes and Industry Infrastructure

By March 2026, Algonquin College in Ottawa will discontinue its Music Industry Arts diploma program, mirroring a broader trend of music program eliminations across Ontario. The Ottawa Music Industry Coalition highlights the program's role in supporting the city's live music scene, which contributed $60 million to Ottawa's GDP in 2021. Tara Shannon, the executive director of the Ottawa Festival Network, describes the closure as devastating for festivals already facing financial difficulties. Other affected institutions include Cambrian College and Laurentian University in Sudbury, along with Mohawk College's applied music program in Hamilton, which was suspended in 2023. Critics argue these reductions push musicians toward urban hubs like Toronto, Montréal, and Vancouver, severing the link between training and job opportunities in Canada's music sector.