CCIL News

Fleming College and its Centre for the Advancement of Water and Wastewater Technologies (CAWT), located in Peterborough, have agreed not to compete with private-sector laboratories in the provision of routine testing services.

“We’re pleased that Fleming College moved quickly to address this issue,” said Tony Araujo, President of the Canadian Council of Independent Laboratories (CCIL) which represents more than 460 commercial testing facilities across the country.

CCIL became concerned when it learned that CAWT, a publicly-funded institution, had planned to offer routine testing services in competition with the private sector. This posed a potential threat to existing commercial laboratories as the CAWT would have an unfair pricing advantage.

CCIL representatives met with Brett Goodwin, Vice President of Applied Research and Innovation at Fleming College on March 4, and he made it clear that “the CAWT has no plans to engage in routine testing services” beyond its applied research projects. He also noted the CAWT’s ISO 17025 accreditation will be maintained solely for the purpose of assuring clients that its applied research testing results can be trusted.

Araujo said the College and CCIL worked together to resolve the issue, and that this positive approach has laid the groundwork for greater collaboration in the future. For example, the two parties are exploring how industry can provide students in the Advanced Water Systems Operations and Management program and the Environmental Technician program with enhanced experiential learning opportunities through co-op placements.

“We’re excited about the possibilities!” said Tania Clerac, Dean, School of Environmental and Natural Resources Sciences at Fleming College.

“CCIL sees such collaboration as an excellent way to address skilled labour shortages while providing students with rewarding job opportunities,” Araujo stated. CCIL’s members have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, and employ thousands of engineers, scientists, and technicians in well-paying jobs.

Media contact:
Megan Stephens
416-451-6400
megan@prpost.ca