B.C. government launches independent review of public post-secondary system

The B.C. government has launched a review of the public post-secondary system in response to mounting financial pressures affecting colleges and universities across the province.

Don Avison, a former B.C. deputy education minister, will oversee the independent assessment and is expected to present recommendations by March 15.

In an email statement to The Runner, Jessie Sunner, minister of post-secondary education and future skills, wrote nearly all B.C. post-secondaries are facing significant financial issues rooted in factors including inflation, declining domestic student enrolment, and “unilateral federal changes to international student visas made without notice or consultation with the province.”

In a staff memo sent in August, Provost and Vice-President Academic Diane Purvey, who was acting president at the time, wrote Kwantlen Polytechnic University was forecasting international student enrolment of about 2,360 for the fall, which was down almost 60 per cent from fall 2023. KPU’s fiscal year 2025-26 budget projected a $12.1-million drop in net revenue, with an almost $49-million decrease in international student tuition fees.

KPU political science instructor Ross Pink says like colleges and universities across Canada, the institution is facing substantial budget cutbacks because of the decline in international students.

“That means we have to be very careful how we manage our programs, courses, and curriculum to ensure that we have a high quality, which we do, but it does pose more challenges and more responsibilities on the KPU community,” Pink says.

In early 2025, KPU announced that it issued layoff notices to about 70 faculty members. By late August, it cut a further 45 full-time staff positions.

Sunner wrote that the province’s review will take a holistic look at sector-wide sustainability to “bring long-term stability to the system.”

“Nothing is predetermined. Ultimately, our priority is to find the right path forward to ensure a strong, sustainable post secondary system in British Columbia, now and into the future. All options are on the table,” she wrote.

Since the NDP took power in 2017 in B.C., Sunner wrote that the province’s funding to the post-secondary sector increased by $1.2 billion annually, for a current yearly total of $3.2 billion. Meanwhile, domestic enrolments have remained flat or declined.

“It’s important that this significant investment is used as effectively as possible,” she added. “This means reducing duplication, right sizing where appropriate, and addressing administrative inefficiencies — so more funding goes directly to supporting students and ensuring they have affordable, accessible education no matter where they live.”

Nick Robinson, a domestic student at KPU majoring in history, says his graduation has been delayed due to a lack of available courses.

“I would have been able to graduate last semester if there were two second-year political science courses available, but they only had one,” Robinson says.

Robinson finds it significant that the provincial government launched the review in light of the funding challenges post-secondaries are facing.

“There’s questions about financial stability of the institutions, where they’re getting the money from, what programs they might have to cut. So I think it’s important to look at this as soon as possible.”

Pink says the federal international cap introduced by the previous Liberal government under Justin Trudeau in 2024 — and carried on by Prime Minister Mark Carney’s administration — was short-sighted and needs re-examining.

“I believe we need more immigrants,” Pink says. “We have to manage the immigration inflow properly … but overall, the evidence is overwhelming that we benefit from having foreign students, refugees, and immigrants come to Canada. We need them because we have a very low birth rate and we’re not replacing people that we lose.”

International student Jasmeen Kaur says rising tuition costs would exacerbate the financial hardship that many international students experience. 

“We are paying twice what domestic students pay,” she says. “We have rent, groceries, and work responsibilities. We are struggling here, and it gives a lot of mental pressure and even health issues.”

KPU will increase international student tuition by two per cent — the same increase for domestic tuition fees, Vice-President Administration Peter Smailes said at the Jan. 28 board of governors meeting.

Two per cent is the maximum yearly increase allowed for domestic students, under the provincial government’s tuition limit policy.

Both the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University will increase international student tuition fees between three and four per cent.

Sunner wrote Avison is meeting with sector partners and hearing directly from students, faculty, staff, institutional leaders, First Nations, and other Indigenous partners. She adds that she encourages students to submit written comments to Avison at psfs.sustainability.review@gov.bc.ca. 

“If they need more time or follow up, we’re here to listen. All of this input will help ensure we’re making the best decisions for post-secondary education and putting students first,” Sunner wrote.

“We understand the stress and anxiety students, staff, and faculty feel, and I want to reassure all our partners that our number one priority is ensuring affordable and accessible education.”