A year has passed since the federal government announced a 35% reduction in study permits, and David Baxter for the Canadian Press discusses the crunch that has unfolded since. Council of Ontario Universities President Steve Orsini said that the organization’s members expect a combined loss of $300M this fiscal year and $600M in the upcoming fiscal year. “We’re seeing across-the-board cuts in programming and services, layoffs, hiring freezes, deferred capital investments,” said Orsini, who noted nine student housing projects have been affected. In Ontario, a combination of federal policy changes, the provincial tuition freeze for domestic students, and insufficient operating grants have created what Orsini calls a “perfect storm.” British Columbia Federation of Students Chair Jessie Niikoi said that provincial and federal governments should collaborate to provide institutions with reliable funding so they do not have to rely on international student tuition.
