The BC Federation of Students (BCFS) is urging the provincial government to increase funding to post-secondary education institutions.
The organization says programs, faculty, and student services have been cut due to underfunding and a decline in international tuition revenue.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO 1130 NEWSRADIO VANCOUVER LIVE!Simon Fraser University (SFU), for example, expects 500 fewer international undergraduates this semester, leading to a $ 20 million loss in its budget.
Cole Reinbold, Secretary-Treasurer at BCFS, says that students, who are returning to campuses this week, face shorter library hours and other obstacles.
“What students are seeing on campus right now are reduced course offerings, less support on campus, and fewer library hours,” Reinbold said.
BC Federation of Students hints that Vancouver Island University (VIU) shut down 14 programs this year alone.
“Then what happens at VIU eventually happens at other institutions,” Reinbold said.
“VIU was at a $50 million deficit not too long ago. Now they are only at $9 million, but to get to that number, they have had to cut 22 programs,” she explained.
The BCFS is calling VIU “ground zero,” criticizing the shortcomings in public funding.
It says the provincial and federal government only covers 40 per cent of institutional operating costs.
Compared to the late 1990s, this is a drop of almost 30 per cent.
International students have been source of income
The BCFS demands the divestment to stop and calls for public funding of 75 per cent of operating budgets.
“SFU is in a $50 million budget shortfall and began reductions in mid-2024. They had already cut nearly 100 staff, and the institution says that it’s because of budget pressures,” Reinbold explained.
“For this next year, they are flagging another $20 million operating shortfall.”
One major source of income for post-secondary education institutions has been international students.
However, due to federal changes that put a temporary cap on international enrollment in the country, only 437,000 study permits were issued in 2025 so far.
Provincial ministry raised concerns with feds about visa changes
The Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills responds to BCFS’s demands, saying that it is aware of financial pressures and the impacts they have on affected campuses.
“Post-secondary institutions across B.C. are facing significant financial pressures due to a number of factors outside of their control, including ongoing impacts of unilateral changes by the federal government to policies affecting international students,” said the ministry to 1130 NewsRadio.
It says it has increased its funding over the last nine years.
“Every year, the Ministry provides operating grants to B.C.’s 25 public post-secondary institutions to provide a wide range of programs and supports for students. The Ministry has increased operating grants every year, with over $1 billion in additional investments made between 2016 and 2025.”
The ministry also says it has raised concerns with the federal government about the financial consequences of reducing visas for international students.
“The Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills has repeatedly raised concerns with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada about the lack of consultation and the impact of abrupt policy shifts.”
It promises collaboration with the affected institutions.
“The Ministry will continue to work closely with these institutions as they seek to return to more stable financial footing, and with all post-secondary institutions as they work to manage their operations and budgets through these financially challenging times.”