March 24, 2025

The Government of Manitoba has released its Budget 2025, which forecasts an overall deficit for 2025-26. Expenses for the province’s Advanced Education and Training ministry have increased by $150M due to new collective agreements, rising operational costs for institutions, and higher demand for the MB Student Loan program. Notable investments in postsecondary education include: funding to add 176 health-care training seats at universities and colleges and a $400K increase to the Apprenticeship Training Equipment Grants program. In the event of tariffs, MB also pledged up to $50M to support retraining programming, with a focus on the trades, as well as an additional $25M towards student loans and $10M for the student aid grants.

The Institut national de la recherche scientifique is leading a new network that addresses the lack of health and social services in rural and remote regions of Québec. Alongside INRS, the réseau CommunAutés Rurales et Éloignées en Santé is co-directed by the Université du Québec à Montréal, Université du Québec à Rimouski, and Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières. Together, they will embark on research to improve the quality of care and services offered throughout the region. They will especially focus on topics such as northern health, Indigenous health, and the care service trajectories of vulnerable populations. The network is funded by the Fonds de recherche du Québec and the Government of Québec’s Ministry of Health and Social Services.

The Government of New Brunswick has introduced legislative amendments that would change the process for launching new postsecondary programs. If passed, the minister would gain authority to approve new programs, specify terms and conditions of approvals, suspend or revoke approvals, or allow institutions to advertise programs before their approval. NB says that these changes are meant to make the process for launching new programs more efficient. “These changes strike a balance between providing these institutions with more flexibility to prepare for delivery of new programs, while still ensuring program quality and student protections are in place prior to program delivery,” said NB Acting Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training, and Labour Jean-Claude D’Amours.

Fleming College has unveiled a new recruitment video that highlights the college and its location as part of the “Apply Yourself Here” campaign. The video features students participating in hands-on learning across a variety of programs and settings at Fleming’s Peterborough, Lindsay, and Haliburton campuses, while also showcasing the surrounding communities. “Through this campaign, we invite students to envision themselves here experiencing our hands-on programs, making connections in a welcoming community, and setting the foundation for a successful career,” said Fleming Acting Co-President and Executive VP, Academic Dr Theresa Knott. “Fleming is a place where students can truly ignite their purpose, and this video brings that to life in an engaging and inspiring way.”

Several Canadian postsecondary institutions are listed in the latest University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) Top 100 North American Business School Rankings and UTD Top 100 Worldwide Business School Rankings. Eight Canadian institutions appeared in the North American list: the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management (#16), McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management (#37), the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business (#40), Western University’s Ivey Business School (#63), Université de Montréal HEC Montréal (#66), the University of Alberta’s School of Business (#74), Queen’s University’s Smith School of Business (#85), and York University’s Schulich School of Business (#87). Five of these institutions were ranked in the top 100 worldwide: U of T (#17), McGill (#47), UBC (#51), Western (#88), and UMontréal (#93).

Two cégeps recently announced that they are suspending their early childhood education training programs this fall due to a lack of applicants. According to Radio Gaspésie, Cégep de la Gaspésie et des Îles received only two registrants for the Fall semester, while La Presse reports that Cégep Gérald-Godin received just five applicants. As a result, both institutions temporarily paused their programs. Gérald-Godin’s directeur des études Simon Fortin said that the decline in applicants is a province-wide issue caused by poor working conditions in the early childhood education sector, despite the significant demands in the job market. Fortin added that the cégep has not given up on the program and will attempt to build a student cohort for 2026.

The University of Northern British Columbia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation (LTFN) to reduce barriers to education for LTFN students. The MOU includes a formalized tuition waiver from UNBC alongside financial support from LTFN to cover student costs such as living expenses and books. The initiative builds on a 2019 pilot agreement. LTFN Chief Dolleen Logan, speaking on behalf of Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, said that the initiative will empower LTFN students and give them tools for success. “Our ongoing partnership with UNBC is crucial to ensuring that all voices and perspectives are considered as we work together to ignite the next generation of Indigenous leaders in British Columbia, Canada and globally,” said Logan.

George Brown College is facing criticism from students, alumni, and the broader community over its decision not to run an intake this Fall for some of its jewelry and gemmology programs. CTV News reports that students and alumni launched a letter-writing campaign and petition after learning that George Brown had paused admissions to some of its programs. On Thursday, a group gathered for a protest and handed letters of concern to college officials. George Brown Centre for Arts, Design, and Information Technology Interim Dean Ana Rita Morais explained that while the college is not closing or indefinitely suspending the program, it will not run an intake for Fall 2025 “given the decline in enrolment and lack of funding.”

Saskatchewan Polytechnic has received $800K from the RBC Foundation to train the next generation of sustainable energy workers. This donation will allow Sask Polytech to enhance its programming and course materials to equip students to support the transition to a net-zero economy. The institution will focus on developing additional electives, new micro-credentials, and customized training in areas such as solar, wind, and geothermal energy. “Saskatchewan is always ready to equip green-skilled graduates” said Sask Polytech President Dr Larry Rosia. “Companies need workers who can apply the latest technologies in real-world environments, and the RBC Foundation is helping us meet that demand.”

Organizations across Canada are calling on provincial governments to increase postsecondary funding. In Newfoundland and Labrador, the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 1615 is urging the province to boost funding for Memorial University to address the projected $8.9M deficit in its upcoming budget. Colleges Ontario, the Council of Ontario Universities, and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce wrote an open letter to the Government of Ontario requesting increased operating funding. “Without immediate and effective investments, institutions will be forced to make decisions that compromise the quality of education and limit accessibility,” they wrote. According to the Winnipeg Free Press, the University of Winnipeg is projecting a significant deficit and has asked the Government of Manitoba to update its postsecondary funding model.