Post-secondary schools under financial pressure from federal cap on international students
Post-secondary institutions across Canada are feeling the pinch from the federal government’s decreased cap on permits for international students.
That includes Camosun College in Saanich, B.C., which has 400 fewer international students than were originally budgeted for prior to the government’s intervention.
The college is now staring down a $5 million deficit for the 2025-26 school year.
Lynelle Yutani, president of the Camosun College Faculty Association, said the union has been told layoffs are coming, but is still waiting on specifics.
"I think it's time for our province to advocate for some transitional support funding,” said Yutani.
In a statement to CTV News, Camosun College confirmed it has been “forced to make the difficult decision of eliminating vacant positions,” and will be imposing layoffs “across all employee groups” to address its deficit.
The college also said it was disappointed with a lack of consultation by the federal government on its permit cap.
For its part, the CCFA said it wasn’t consulted by the college on the upcoming cuts either, and wants to ensure the job losses stay out of the classrooms.
"Administrative salaries and administrative spending has increased at the college faster than in any other area,” said Yutani.
Outside of the classroom, many workers at the college fall under the CUPE banner.
In a statement to CTV News, CUPE 2081 said the current funding structure has “forced colleges and universities to overly rely on international student tuition to support core operations,” and that “careening from emergency budget to emergency budget is unsustainable."
Tony Elder, associate vice-president of academic resource planning for the University of Victoria, said that school has had to make “some difficult financial decisions” as well, undergoing two budget cuts over the past three years, with some job losses.
UVic’s international student population has dropped by nearly 1,000 students from a decade ago, which has translated into a significant financial hit. While a Canadian student spends roughly $6,000 per year for tuition, international students pay around $30,000 per year.
"For a four-year undergraduate degree program, that's a significant investment,” said Eder.
Vancouver Island University told CTV News it saw a 16-per-cent decrease in international student enrolment between 2023 and 2024, and that the shift aligns with broader trends affecting post-secondary institutions across Canada. That reduction has led VIU to reassess its budgets and operations plans.
As fewer international students come into the country, more post-secondary institutions will need to make some tough decisions to cover future budget deficits, which could include more job losses.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former soldier 'Canadian Dave' taken by the Taliban: sources
David Lavery, a former Canadian Forces soldier who helped approximately 100 people flee Afghanistan during the fall of Kabul, has been 'picked up' by the Taliban this week, according to multiple sources who spoke to CTV National News on the condition of anonymity.
Is Canada Post delivering mail today? What to know about the strike
With Canada Post workers on strike, many individuals and businesses are facing the challenge of sending and receiving mail. Here are the answers to some of Canadians’ most-asked questions.
Canada Revenue Agency eliminating nearly 600 term positions by end of 2024
The Canada Revenue Agency will be eliminating approximately 600 temporary and contract employees across the country by mid-December.
Tracking respiratory viruses in Canada: RSV, influenza, COVID-19
As the country heads into the worst time of year for respiratory infections, the Canadian respiratory virus surveillance report tracks how prevalent certain viruses are each week and how the trends are changing week to week.
Other countries seeking out advice from Canada ahead of Trump return: Joly
Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly says Donald Trump's return to the White House has boosted Canada's influence in the world as other international partners turn to Canada for advice on how to deal with him.
Former Waterloo, Ont. school principal pleads guilty to luring, sending sexually explicit material
A former elementary school principal in Waterloo, Ont. has pleaded guilty to charges that include luring and transmitting sexually explicit material to someone believed to be under the age of 16.
'No excuse for this': Winnipeg apartment building without mail for a year
Going to the mailbox to check for letters and packages is a daily ritual for many of us, but not for people living at a Manitoba Housing complex in Winnipeg. They're cut off from their mail.
Montreal children's hospitals urging parents to avoid ERs
The two biggest children’s hospitals in Montreal - the CHU Sainte-Justine and Montreal Children's Hospital - are asking parents to avoid bringing their children to the emergency room if possible due to a surge in patients.
Love story: Nova Scotia couple gets engaged at Taylor Swift's Toronto show
A Nova Scotia couple fulfilled their wildest dreams Thursday night when they got engaged at Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in Toronto.