December 12, 2024

The Financial Accountability Office of Ontario recently published its Q2 expenditure report for 2024-25, which summarizes the provincial government’s spending by sector. The report reveals that Ontario’s postsecondary education sector has experienced a significant year-over-year decline in spending. In the first half of 2024-25, the ON PSE sector’s spending was $425M (6.9%) lower than the equivalent period in 2023-24; PSE was also the only public sector to experience a decline during this time period. The FAO notes that this decline was influenced by the notable drop in operating spend at colleges(-$752M). Joe Friesen of the Globe and Mail discusses the broader context of this decline at colleges, such as the changing international enrolment landscape and ON’s rejection of a recommendation to allow domestic tuition rates to increase.

The PIE News reports that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has granted a temporary grace period to international students transferring between designated learning institutions (DLIs). Under this new exemption, international students who meet certain criteria and intend to transfer institutions in January or May 2025 “may start attending the new designated learning institution (DLI) they were intending to transfer to while their study permit is being processed.” Several organizations and postsecondary institutions praised the news, given the concerns around how the original deadlines would have impacted transfer student enrolment numbers. “For the first time in a while it’s a bit of positive news, albeit due to their policy decisions in the first place,” said University of British Columbia Director of Global Engagement Philip Reichert.

The Government of Northwest Territories has released the results of an environmental assessment of Tin Can Hill, the potential future location for Aurora College’s new North Slave campus. The assessment identified significant arsenic levels at Tin Can Hill, but noted that this contamination should be manageable if treated correctly. The college will be evaluating the results of the environmental assessment as it decides on its next steps regarding the site. If the college decides to proceed, CBC reports that Aurora will need approximately $400M to fund the construction of the campus.

The University of Windsor is addressing a $30M deficit with a variety of actions, including layoffs and a comprehensive evaluation of positions and salaries. CTV News and the Windsor Star report that UWindsor has frozen salaries for non-union staff members, eliminated some vacant positions, and laid off eight employees. UWindsor President Robert Gordon said the university is completing a “comprehensive assessment of positions and salaries” to help it adapt. “Changes include restructuring, new responsibilities, title/salary adjustments, and position eliminations,” stated Gordon in a letter. “We must face the reality that the status quo cannot be maintained, and we need to figure out together how to do less with less.”

Steinbach Bible College, which will be moving to a new location in 2026, has announced that it will be spending $15M on renovations for the new space. These renovations will include the construction of classrooms, offices, a chapel, a library, dining space, and a dorm. SBC also had filed an application with the city to have the property rezoned to allow its plans to move forward. About $8M has been raised towards covering the cost of the renovations. “There’s a big job ahead of us to raise the rest,” said SBC President Reimer. “[T]he support we are receiving has been encouraging.”

Moncton Flight College has suspended operations at its Fredericton campus for 2025. Joe Galimberti, Senior VP of Public Affairs for PAL Group of Companies—which owns Moncton Flight College—explained that the Fredericton location had been focused on international students. “[G]iven some information we’ve received from our clients about expected student flow into 2025, operations from that part of the business are going to be paused,” said Galimberti. Up to 40 staff members will be impacted by the suspension, with most of these employees being offered other positions. The college’s Moncton campus is not affected; the Fredericton campus plans to reopen in 2026.

The University of Guelph has announced that it is exploring a plan to redevelop two sites on university-owned land into mixed-use student housing to create more than 2,500 beds. This would be in addition to the university’s recently announced first-year student residence development. “We’re embarking on an exciting journey to hopefully create thousands of new student housing beds over the next decade,” said UoGuelph VP (Finance and Operations) Sharmilla Rasheed. “We recognize housing availability and affordability is crucial to academic well-being and are committed to doing what we can to not only increase the quantity of student housing, but the diversity of housing options that will best meet unique student needs.”

During a recent follow-up audit of Northlands College, the Provincial Auditor of Saskatchewan flagged several concerns with non-compliance with college policies. PA Now reports that the audit found issues such as claims being approved without adequate oversight, the use of a corporate credit card for personal transactions, and the unapproved use of a personal vehicle for travel. The auditor general issued multiple recommendations to the college, advising Northlands to strengthen its processes around goods and services purchases and around reviewing journal entries and bank reconciliations. “We are dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of fiscal responsibility and transparency,” stated Northlands chairperson Nick Daigneault, adding that the college is committed to a continuous improvement approach in addressing audit findings.

Université du Québec à Montréal and the University of Niagara Falls Canada have each signed new international partnerships. UQAM signed a framework agreement to collaborate with the University of Kolwezi in the Democratic Republic of Congo on environmental sciences and sustainable development. This partnership would help the city of Kolwezi, which currently faces several mining-related environmental challenges. The University of Niagara Falls Canada has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Management University of Africa to enhance educational experiences for students at both institutions. The partnership may lead to initiatives such as articulation and pathway progression opportunities, joint educational programs, semester abroad programs, and student and faculty exchanges.

Laurentian University is planning to sell its historic Bell Mansion, which has been closed for repairs since October 2023. In a statement, the university explained that the minimum costs to repair the building “far exceed what the university can responsibly invest,” especially at a time when the university’s resources must be focused on academics, student services, and campus infrastructure. Soo Today reports that the board of governors passed a motion in October 2024 to “approve the initiation of the process to dispose of the Bell Mansion.” The property cannot be sold until May 30, 2025 because of an agreement between Laurentian and the Art Gallery of Sudbury.