The Cape Breton University Board of Governors has officially approved the university’s 2025-26 operating budget, which includes a $6.8M deficit. CBU VP of Finance and Operations Gordon MacInnis attributed this deficit to the federal government’s reduction of the number of international students in Nova Scotia. In response to this situation, CBU will be cutting costs by moving off-site operations back to its university campus; eliminating at least 56 positions; and raising student tuition and fees, including a 3% tuition increase for out of province students. “We have, and continue to make, every effort possible to minimize the employee impact caused by IRCC policy changes,” said CBU President David Dingwall. CBU will prioritize placing existing full-time staff in new positions at its medical campus, which is expected to open this summer.
