John Tibbits, the longtime president of Conestoga College, resigned abruptly on Jan. 14 with an exit package worth more than $3 million, details of which were kept secret from the public and even from some board members who voted to approve it.
Secret exit package
The details of the exit package have not been disclosed, and the board of governors was given only two days' notice of the meeting to approve it. Board members were not provided with specifics about the payout, including the amount, with chair Martha George citing legal and privacy reasons. Some board members voted against the package, but it passed.
Tibbits' tenure and compensation
Tibbits served as president for over 38 years, making him the highest-paid post-secondary president in Ontario, earning $636,107 in 2024. His pay increased by 55% between 2022 and 2024. Under his leadership, Conestoga expanded its international student program from 13,000 in 2019 to over 38,000 by 2023, becoming the college with the most international students in Canada. This led to a surplus of $250 million in the 2023-24 fiscal year.
Controversy and audit
Prior to his resignation, the province had initiated an external audit of the college, which has not been released. The federal government also singled out Conestoga for cracking down on alleged abuse of the international student program. The influx of international students contributed to housing crises in the Cambridge area.
The Ministry of Colleges and Universities and Conestoga College did not respond to requests for comment.
