February 26, 2026

The Government of Nova Scotia has released its new provincial budget—Budget 2026-27 Defending Nova Scotia—which is a deficit budget. The NS Ministry of Advanced Education’s overall estimated expenses have decreased for the year, due to government’s decision to move Nova Scotia Community College to the Ministry of Labour, Skills, and Immigration. Slight increases have been announced to areas such as student assistance ($50.5M to $56.4M) and university operating funding ($379.5M to $387.5M), while areas such as research and innovation funding have seen a slight decrease ($7.4M to $6.9M). The province also announced several targeted investments into several projects related to health care and medical training.

Canada’s Top 100 has released a list of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for 2026. This annual competition recognizes exceptional workplace diversity and inclusiveness programs. Organizations were evaluated based on initiatives in five key groups: women; visible minorities; individuals with disabilities, Indigenous peoples; and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Eight postsecondary institutions were included in the list: George Brown Polytechnic, McMaster University, Université de Montréal, the University of British Columbia, the University of Manitoba, the University of Toronto, the University of Victoria, and York University.

The Government of New Brunswick has reportedly directed its departments to reduce spending by 10–15%, and postsecondary leaders have come to the table to discuss the potential changes and impacts of cuts. CBC reports that NB has shared ideas that include folding St Thomas University into the University of New Brunswick, ending provincial funding to Mount Allison University, and/or closing or merging New Brunswick Community College campuses. The university leaders told CTV news that they are advocating for their institutions and reiterating their value during these discussions. NB Post-Secondary Education and Training Minister Jean-Claude D’Amours stated that the institutions themselves are “the best people right now to help us [find] solutions.”

The University of Lethbridge has released a Research and Creative Activities Plan, which will guide the institution’s research and creative activities, research dissemination, and academic discourse. The plan is built around four fundamental focus areas: Foundations, which consists of the university’s relationship with the Blackfoot Confederacy and other Indigenous peoples; Ideas, which is focused on discovery and knowledge production; Systems, which recognizes the complexity of human and ecological systems; and Places, which highlights the institution’s place in nature and community. “This will guide our efforts going forward and having been through this process, I know how excited our researchers and our communities are for where our curiosity will take us,” said ULethbridge VP Research Dr Dean McMartin.

The University of New Brunswick has officially launched the Centre for Learning Futures (CLF) and, as part of the launch, has formed a new partnership with the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce. CLF’s portfolio now comprises four core units: UNB Online, Transformative Teaching and Learning, Language and Leisure Learning, and Experiential Education. These four units support UNB’s growth priorities by expanding access to academic and professional learning, strengthening community engagement, and connecting students with real-world experience. UNB and the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce will support professional development needs and inform the expansion of learning pathways, micro-credentials, and professional development opportunities.

The University of Saskatchewan has partnered with the Gabriel Dumont Institute, Métis Nation-Saskatchewan (MN-S), and Saskatoon Public Schools to expand its Indigenous Language Certificate with a Michif language stream. This certificate focuses on cultivating new Michif speakers and equipping them with the tools and skills needed to teach the language. It offers clear qualifications for Michif educators and meets the Saskatchewan Professional Teachers Regulatory Board’s requirements for an Additional Qualification Certificate. “With partnerships throughout the province at all education levels, including the University of Saskatchewan, we can introduce Michif to more people, giving them the methods, techniques, and tools needed to pass the language down to future generations,” said MN-S language minister Laura Burnouf.

A recent Nature article discusses the concept of “pop-up journals,” which are temporary journals devoted to single questions or timely issues, and how they could bridge research and policy. The article discusses the Pop-Up Journal Initiative, which will publish a limited series of journals on specific topics of relevance to policy makers, such as the impact of investment in research and development. However, Stefanie Haustein (University of Ottawa) noted that researchers may hesitate to submit papers to a journal that will stop publishing in a few years, which would present an issue while pop-up initiatives are building their reputation.

Dalhousie University has launched Life at Dal, a new section of the university’s website that replaces the former Campus Life section with a modern and user-friendly experience. Life at Dal contains information on student supports and services; clubs and events; and links to student intranet sites. “It’s not the same section redesigned. It’s a whole new hub based on intuitive user behaviour,” explained Dal Student Affairs Director of Communications Erica Zwicker. Dal Web Content Specialist Trudi Smith added that these changes were made to better support the student journey by consolidating content and resources into one place. By creating Life at Dal, the university says that teams were able to reduce the number of pages in the section by 80% and improve web accessibility.

Humber Polytechnic has partnered with home inspectors Carson Dunlop to launch a Real Estate Home Inspection program. The program is a part of Humber’s Association and Professional Programs and is designed for working professionals and real estate professionals. Humber Association and Professional Programs Program Manager Nelia Louro spoke on the need for home inspectors in the current buyer’s market, adding: “This program equips professionals with the expertise needed to deliver real value, mitigate risk and protect consumers.”

Yukon University and the Yukon University Employees Union have reached a tentative agreement. This agreement will be presented to union members for a ratification vote in early March and will be signed by YukonU’s board of governors if approved. No details of the agreement have been disclosed, but the tentative agreement potentially avoids a strike. “We are very pleased to announce that we have a tentative agreement,” said union representative Rafsan Faruque Jugol. “Workers deserve a contract that is fair and equitable.” Members will vote on the deal on March 4th and 5th.