November 4, 2025

New Brunswick youth who complete their studies in a Francophone high school tend to pursue postsecondary education at French-language universities and college, reports Radio-Canada. Drawing on recent Statistics Canada data, Radio-Canada reports that 97% of youth in northern NB and 71% in southeastern NB who completed Francophone K-12 went on to French-language postsecondary institutions. This is reportedly well above the national average (excluding Québec) which sees only 45% of all Francophone graduates continuing at a French-language postsecondary school. Université Laval historian Serge Dupuis and Université de Moncton Professor Michelle Landry both explained that students are more likely to pursue French PSE if there is a wide range of French programs in the student’s region.

The Government of Saskatchewan has announced a four-year funding agreement with the province’s postsecondary institutions that will see $250M in additional operating funding distributed over the next four years. The agreement includes a 3% annual increase to operating funding and a decrease to the tuition increase limit from 4% to a range of 0% to 3% for domestic undergraduate programs. The 1% funding increase implemented in 2025–26 has also been made permanent. “This commitment is a strong signal that underscores the critical role that post-secondary education plays in today’s economic reality,” said Regional College CEO Council Chair and North West College President Dr Eli Ahlquist.

Western University has become the first Canadian school to join the Global Virus Network, an international collection of institutions with a goal of increasing pandemic preparedness. The university’s Pathogen Research Centre will become a Global Virus Network Centre of Excellence upon its completion in 2027. Western Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry professor Miguel E Quiñones-Mateu explained that joining the network “represents an extraordinary opportunity to strengthen our international research partnerships and build the scientific capacity needed for future pandemic readiness.”

Federal Immigration Minister Lena Diab recently defended the new powers that are reportedly part of the proposed Bill C-12, including the ability to cancel, alter, or suspend foreign study permits en masse. The Government of Canada’s Bill C-12 could reportedly be used in these ways if doing so would be in the “public interest.” Minister Diab told a House of Commons committee that the measure has been introduced to “strengthen the integrity of the international student program and better protect the students.” When questioned on what constituted the “public interest,” Diab explained that the definition was left intentionally vague to allow the government to respond to a variety of situations including large-scale fraud, national security threats, and health crises. Bill C-12 will face consideration from several more committees prior to potentially becoming law.

Université Laval plans to develop two of its university districts to improve its financial independence through long-term revenue generation. Inspired by similar projects at universities like Simon Fraser University, the University of Toronto, and the University of Waterloo, the project will involve the creation of housing, shops, and local services across a combined 38 hectares of land. The university also says that it plans to work with real estate developers, non-profit organizations, and other partners to develop the land, which it intends to retain ownership of and lease out under decades-long agreements. The university is currently conducting a community survey to guide its approach.

Several members of British Columbia’s postsecondary sector are calling for changes to postsecondary funding in order to stem the impact of financial challenges facing postsecondary institutions and students. The British Columbia Federation of Students and Confederation of University Faculty Associations of BC both called the financial situation a crisis. BCFS asserted that the province has seen nearly 1,000 layoffs and 80 programs suspended or cut since 2023. The BC Ministry of Post Secondary Education and Future Skills responded with a statement pointing to examples of how it has increased funding by more than $1B since 2016. BC’s postsecondary critic MLA Bryan Tepper told Castanet that the province’s decision to shelve its postsecondary funding review was “a huge missed opportunity” for learning.

Université de Moncton, Université du Québec à Montréal, and Université du Québec en Outaouais have each announced new centres. At UMoncton, the Centre d’excellence en pédagogie will help faculty improve their teaching. The centre is part of UMoncton’s plan to promote innovation and excellence in teaching across its three campuses. UQAM has launched two new faculty research centres focused on cybersecurity and biodiversity. The cybersecurity centre will conduct research, support student training, and act as a cybersecurity point of contact for the UQAM community. The biodiversity centre will help the province understand, protect, and promote biodiversity and develop knowledge-based public policies. At UQO, a newly created research observatory will support research and knowledge development on constitutional issues.

Several postsecondary institutions have announced labour updates. Dalhousie University’s Board of Governors has successfully reached tentative collective agreements with CUPE Local 3912 as well as NSGEU Local 77, representing Dal’s administrative, clerical, and technical employees. Trent University and the Trent University Faculty Association have also reached a tentative agreement that they will recommend to their respective parties. Association of Academic Staff at the University of Alberta members have voted to ratify a tentative agreement with the University of Alberta, with the university’s board of governors to hold a final ratification vote. The University of Toronto Press and Bookstore has reached a tentative agreement with CUPE 3261, which represents the organization’s warehouse and retail workers.

Dr Nichole Kang (Montgomery County Community College) has outlined several ways that colleges can empower student parents in their pursuit of education. Kang points to the importance of offering supports to facilitate participation in higher ed, such as campus food pantries, on-campus daycares, and connections to public supports. She further reminds readers that supports cannot exist in a silo. “Parenting students deserve the same access to quality education as those without children–they just need a little extra support,” concludes Kang. “By creating a culture of caring and empowerment, community colleges can help parenting students make their higher education dreams a reality.”

Fleming College has announced the launch of Fleming Ignites Magazine. The college says that the goal of the magazine is to celebrate the people and stories that make Fleming a rewarding place to study and work. The publication will be offered in both a print and digital format and it will spotlight various people and their achievements at the college. “This publication gives us the opportunity to share the Fleming story with purpose and clarity,” said Fleming Associate VP of Marketing and Advancement Chris Jardine. “It honours where we’ve been while also shining a light on where we’re headed.”