For immediate release
November 26, 2025
The Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills announced yesterday that it will be undertaking a review of the entire system led by former Deputy Minister Don Avison, KC. The review, which kicks off immediately, will include a consultation period that closes on January 15. Under the terms of reference for the review, the focus is on the long-term sustainability of the sector.
“Our system is in crisis, and we have been asking for a systematic analysis of our sector, so we are pleased that the government is undertaking this review,” said FPSE President Brent Calvert. “However, we are concerned about the very tight timelines for completing this review. We will participate in the review in good faith, but we have real concerns with the timeline and parameters set for this review. Given the impending holiday break, it will be nearly impossible to complete meaningful public consultation by January 15,” added Calvert.
Unlike the ill-fated funding formula review led by Don Wright, it was made very clear during a briefing held with the sector that there would be no new money coming with this review. The government emphasized that it would be a holistic review with nothing off the table except new funding. There have been deep layoffs across the province as a result of changes made by the federal government to international student study permits. The precipitous drop in international students in our sector has resulted in budget shortfalls, program closures, and declining enrolment.
“It is disconcerting that the one limitation that has been put on this review is no new funding. The provincial government encouraged the aggressive recruitment of international students as a means of backfilling funding gaps. Now that that source has evaporated, it is disappointing that the government has taken new funding off the table,” said Calvert. “British Columbians look to this government to protect public education, and that will be the focus of our response to these consultations,” argued Calvert.
The terms of reference for the review telegraph that several institutions in the province are not financially sustainable and are likely to run structural deficits for the foreseeable future. The terms of reference identify governance, program delivery, and financial sustainability as key themes for the review. Tuition increases and institutional mergers are clearly options the government is leaving open.
“We concur with the Minister that a strong and resilient post-secondary sector is vital to BC’s economic plan, but it is hard to envision how that happens without public investment. We are open to creative solutions, but a public system requires public investment to flourish,” concluded Calvert.
For media inquiries, please contact FPSE Executive Director Michael Conlon at (604) 873-8988 or info@fpse.ca.
FPSE is the provincial voice of 10,000 faculty and staff at our 18 member locals at BC’s universities, colleges, institutes, and private-sector institutions.