Globe and Mail postsecondary education reporter Joe Friesen discusses the challenges that financial deficits and public pressure will pose for postsecondary institutions this academic year. Friesen writes that external shocks such as the cap on international study permits, protests, and provincial funding decisions have altered the Canadian postsecondary landscape. The author notes that deficits are becoming more common, forcing institutions to take action through hiring freezes and service consolidation. Friesen adds that universities are also under pressure from public opinion and are facing declines in public confidence. Universities Canada President Gabriel Miller emphasized the need for honest public discussions, since the public plays a role in determining how much support universities will receive through the election of governments.
