April 3, 2025

Ahead of the federal election on April 28, University Affairs has published an overview of where each major political party stands on postsecondary education. Among its other pledges, the Liberal Party of Canada has said it would maintain the international student caps and add 1,000 Canada Research Chairs. The Conservative Party of Canada has affirmed its commitment to promoting free speech on campus and creating a system for international credential recognition. The New Democratic Party has promised to prioritize affordable student housing and forgive up to $20K of student debt. Meanwhile, the Green Party of Canada has vowed to cancel all federal student loan debt, while the Bloc Québecois has emphasized its support for increased federal transfers to the provinces.

Mount Saint Vincent University will launch a new Doctor of Psychology program, an associated youth mental health clinic, and four new residency positions, thanks to a $7.9M investment from the Government of Nova Scotia. The Doctor of Psychology Program in School and Child Clinical Psychology and the associated residency opportunity will prepare future psychologists with applied knowledge and practical training for careers in mental health. Students will complete a year of residency working with children and families at the new on-campus clinic. The program—which NS says is the first of its kind in the province—is anticipated to start in September 2026.

Natural Resources Canada has announced multiple investments into postsecondary projects focused on understanding and addressing climate change. Thompson Rivers University has received $1.7M through the Fighting and Managing Wildfires in a Changing Climate – Training Fund to support the training of local response agencies and wildland firefighters. The University of Guelph has received $466K from the Climate Change Adaptation Program to build climate change adaptation knowledge and capacity through a climate change risk assessment of the Giant Mine Remediation Project in the Northwest Territories. The Université du Québec à Rimouski has received $2.3M through the Climate-Resilient Coastal Communities program to develop tools, resources, and guidance that will bolster coastal climate change adaptation strategies and actions in Nunavut.

Conestoga College has reportedly eliminated several administrative positions and notified support staff about upcoming layoffs, reports Cambridge Today. Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) Local 237 President Leopold Koff said that the union is anticipating that as much as 30% of its workforce could be affected by layoffs or reductions. OPSEU Local 238 President Vikki Poirier said that she received the notice just as the Ontario Sunshine List was released. The list shows that Conestoga President John Tibbits’s salary was $636K in 2024, which Poirier noted is a 29% increase from the previous year. “We are talking about layoffs at the same time we have a board of governors that approved a [29%] wage increase for our president,” said Poirier. Koff and Poirier called for greater accountability and transparency from the college.

The University of Lethbridge and the City of Lethbridge have signed an MOU that renews and formalizes their long-standing partnership. Under this agreement, ULethbridge and the city will work together on shared operational, strategic, and administrative priorities, focusing especially on building the region’s skilled and resilient workforce. “This partnership agreement establishes a framework that will allow for continued collaborative opportunities, which have proven to be highly beneficial to both our campus community and Lethbridge and area citizens,” said ULethbridge President Dr Digvir Jayas.

In an article for Maclean’s, Claire Sibonney discusses the various types of meal plans that can be purchased on Canadian university campuses. Most meal plans fit into one of two categories: declining balance plans, which operate like prepaid debit cards and charge for food on per item or by weight; and all-access access plans, which provide limited or unlimited entry to campus dining halls. Sibonney examines the variations of these plans offered on campuses across Canada, as well as their benefits and drawbacks. She then discusses how institutions like McGill University, the University of British Columbia, and the University of Toronto have adapted their food plans over the years in response to student feedback.

The University of British Columbia is suing three companies—Nick Milkovich Architects Inc, Equilibrium Consulting Inc, and Senaltek Ltd—for breach of contract and negligence related to reconstruction work on the Museum of Anthropology. CBC reports that UBC hired Nick Milkovich Architects Inc in 2017 as the prime consultant for a $40M renewal project of the museum’s Great Hall, which included seismic upgrades. Filed in the BC Supreme Court, UBC’s claim alleges that grout seepage damaged the Great Hall due to the defendants’ “errors, omissions, negligence, fault and breaches of contracts.” UBC spokesperson Erik Rolfsen added that all construction-related issues in the lawsuit have since been resolved. CBC notes that these allegations have not yet been tested in court.

The University of Guelph and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) have renewed an MOU to share agricultural knowledge. This partnership aims to support the next generation of agricultural leaders as they address the planet’s most urgent issues. In particular, the MOU will focus on facilitating student collaboration, creating new postgraduate programs and scholarships, and developing joint research networks. “We share in UPLB’s long-standing commitment to research in food security and sovereignty, One Health, sustainability, communities and social justice” said UoGuelph Assistant VP (International) Dr Stuart McCook.

St Mary’s University and Bow Valley College have signed a five-year Memorandum of Agreement to create a pathway to a degree for BVC graduates. Starting in July, eligible graduates of BVC’s Early Childhood Education and Development Diploma program can transfer directly into a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies at St Mary’s, receiving credit for half the degree’s requirements. Eligible students will be guaranteed admission to the program, while both institutions will collaborate to provide them with comprehensive support. “By creating seamless pathways to further education, we are not only empowering students to achieve their academic goals, but we are also expanding career opportunities for our graduates,” said BVC VP Academic Michael Crowe.

Concordia University recently signed two new collective agreements: one with the Concordia University Library Employees’ Union (CULEU) and another with the Concordia University Support Staff Union (CUSSU). CULEU represents all library support staff at the university, while CUSSU’s membership comprises more than 400 employees. Both agreements are in effect retroactively from June 2023 to May 2026. “Negotiating a collective agreement takes commitment and perseverance from both sides,” said Concordia Manager of Employee and Labour Relations Andrée-Anne Bouchard. “Today, we recognize the work that brought us to this moment.”