February 12, 2025

McGill University is reportedly planning budget cuts and layoffs to address a projected $45M deficit for the upcoming fiscal year. McGill administration attributed the deficit to factors such as the federal international student cap and provincial policy changes such as the out-of-province tuition increase and a tuition revenue claw-back. The Canadian Press and Montréal Gazette report that the university will continue its hiring freeze and reduce its headcount by up to 500 staff. McGill Provost Christopher Manfredi emphasized the importance of addressing the deficit as soon as possible, as a prolonged deficit could affect McGill’s credit rating or lead to government intervention that would affect the university’s autonomy.

Northwestern Polytechnic has announced a 15-year partnership agreement with Spartan Controls to bolster training opportunities for the next generation of engineers. As part of this collaboration, NWP’s new $16M training and education space will be named the Spartan Controls Northwestern Centre for Industrial Automation & Innovation. Set to open this Fall, the new facility will feature advanced equipment to facilitate hands-on learning opportunities for students in control technician and power engineering programs. “Spartan Controls has been a strong partner to Northwestern Polytechnic, contributing not only their resources but their extensive industry expertise,” said NWP President Vanessa Sheane. “Their support will directly enhance the learning environment and ensure our students receive the best possible preparation for the workforce.”

The Université de Montréal Unité de Santé Internationale has received $30M from the Government of Canada over seven years to help strengthen health systems in Colombia, Haiti, and Guatemala. The project—to be implemented in partnership with Lawyers Without Borders Canada—is focused on sexual and reproductive health and rights for marginalized women, adolescents, and children in these countries. This funding is part of a broader recent $248M federal initiative to make global health systems more resilient. “International assistance in health care is an investment that will create stronger communities for generations to come,” said Canada Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen.

The University of British Columbia has received a $1M gift from UBC alumna and philanthropist Lynda Hamilton to create the Marilyn Pomfret Memorial Award for Women in Athletics. The gift—the largest ever dedicated to women athletes at UBC—will be used to create scholarships for UBC Thunderbird women athletes and fund more opportunities for the development of women coaches. Hamilton requested that the award be named in honour of former UBC Athletic Director Marilyn Pomfret, who UBC says “lobbied tirelessly for increased opportunities and funding for women athletes.”

Algoma University is introducing three new master’s programs at its Sault Ste Marie and Brampton campuses this Fall: the Master of Global Business and Economy, Master of Science in Business Analytics, and Master of Science in Computer Science. This marks an expansion of AlgomaU’s overall graduate portfolio, as well as the Brampton campus’ first-ever graduate offerings. “These programs are designed to offer students flexible learning opportunities, hands-on experience, and direct engagement with cutting-edge research and industry collaborations,” said AlgomaU VP Academic and Research Dr Donna Rogers. “By fostering strong industry partnerships and embedding experiential learning throughout, we empower students with the skills, knowledge, and real-world experience needed to thrive in their chosen fields.”

The Government of Canada has invested $648K to establish a new awards program to train the next generation of meteorologists. The Environment and Climate Change Canada Meteorology Awards Program will provide 80 scholarships over four years to eligible students enrolled in atmospheric science at Dalhousie University, McGill University, the Université du Québec à Montréal, the University of British Columbia, the University of Manitoba, or York University. “This new scholarship will provide financial support so that they can pursue careers in meteorology and climatology, helping Canada address the current and future impacts of climate change,” said Canada Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault.

The Government of Québec will end the Perspective Québec scholarship program early, bringing it to a close this Winter instead of in the Fall. Initially implemented in 2021, this provincial scholarship program provided financial aid to students in disciplines facing labour shortages, such as health and education. QC said that the changing economic context has prompted it to prioritize other solutions that promote professions in the public services, such as by improving working conditions and salaries. Université Laval has asserted that the withdrawal of this program will have a negative impact on student success. ULaval is accordingly urging the provincial government to reinvest the funds into other student financial aid measures.

Laurentian University is reviewing its policies and security response following the receipt of a prank call about an armed individual on campus on January 27th. An alert and order to shelter in place was reportedly sent to all staff, faculty, and students by email while police investigated. Students expressed concern about the communication method, stating that some faculty members continued teaching, unaware of the order, and noting that students are generally encouraged to turn off or silence their phones. They also described issues with locking the doors on campus. “[An armed individual on campus is] something we always have to be prepared for, although percentage-wise, it’s incredibly low,” said Laurentian University Staff Union President Tom Fenske. Laurentian President Lynn Wells stated that the university is “reviewing the events of January 27th to ensure we continue to uphold the safety and well-being of the Laurentian community.”

The University of Saskatchewan’s Edwards School of Business has unveiled two renovated classrooms designed to foster innovation and excellence in business education. The first—the Melvin Berg Classroom—was made possible thanks to a $500K donation from alumnus Mel Berg and features enhanced lighting and acoustics, seven digital display screens, and a state-of-the-art teaching console. The second was redeveloped with to a $420K gift from alumnus Art Korpach and his family to create an experiential learning space for graduate students and upper-year undergraduates. It includes flexible furniture, embedded computer stations, and expanded seating options.

The Pacific Western Athletic Association (PACWEST) has determined that Columbia Bible College will no longer host the upcoming men’s and women’s basketball provincials. PACWEST launched an investigation into a complaint filed by a Vancouver Island University trans athlete about the behaviour of Columbia Bible College’s coach and players. PACWEST has not released the findings of its investigation but indicated that its decision “has been communicated to the relevant parties.” VIU voiced its support of PACWEST’s decision; the college called for a review, asserting that: “we do not believe that a proper process was followed or that the results were fair.”