FPSE Responds to 2025 Provincial Budget

For Immediate Release
March 4, 2025           

The Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of BC (FPSE) is disappointed that the budget tabled today by Finance Minister Brenda Bailey did not include any measures to address the funding crisis at BC’s colleges and universities. Today’s budget focused on affordability and a response to the introduction of tariffs by the Trump administration. Beyond reannouncing capital spending projects, there were no new commitments for post-secondary funding.

“We were hoping to have some temporary contingency funding to address the crisis at BC colleges and universities in the wake of the dramatic and sudden changes to the international student visa policy. We are seeing layoffs across the province that are undermining the quality of post-secondary education and hurting communities,” said FPSE President Brent Calvert.

In January 2024, the federal government abruptly announced a 35% cut in new international student permits. In addition, the federal government subsequently changed regulations around post-graduation work permits and dramatically reduced the ability of international students to access pathways to permanent residency. These combined changes have made Canada a much less desirable place for international students to study and have had a devastating impact on BC’s colleges and universities.

“We understand the government’s focus on the effect of tariffs on British Columbians, and our sector stands ready to be part of a nimble, innovative response to this unprecedented attack on our economy,” said Calvert. “The reality, however, is that we flagged existential threats to the viability of our sector over a year ago, and we feel ignored and alone. The provincial government encouraged and enabled international student recruitment as a way of backfilling a lack of public funding, and we have sounded the alarm for years. That policy has now ended in failure, and we need a plan to address the effect on communities across the province,” concluded Calvert.

The government indicated a few years back that it was recasting the Ministry of Post-‍‍Secondary Education and Future Skills as an economic ministry. The province is now experiencing a seismic economic shock in the form of these tariffs, and we have yet to see a plan for what role the sector can play.

“We stand in solidarity with the government of British Columbia and all Canadians in responding to these outrageous tariffs. However, the government needs to come to the table and discuss solutions with our sector,” said Calvert.

For further information or comment, please contact FPSE Executive Director Michael Conlon at (604) 873-8988 or info@fpse.ca.