University agreements with N.S. government outline funding, accountability rules
Nova Scotia's 10 universities have signed new agreements with the province that outline funding, accountability requirements and stipulations the schools must abide by to access some of the money.
The two-year agreements, which have not yet been publicly posted, do not allow universities to increase tuition for Nova Scotia residents in undergraduate programs, but come with a two per cent increase in operating funds.
However, there are no restrictions on funding increases for students coming to Nova Scotia universities from other provinces, international students or graduate students, a spokesperson for the department of advanced education told CBC News.
According to a news release from the province, the 10 universities will see a boost of $7.7 million in the 2025-26 fiscal year, and $7.8 million the following year.
However, some of that operating grant will be held back if certain universities don't meet certain targets.
Those targets include filling at least 97 per cent of health program seats, ensuring housing is available for 15 per cent of students and that on-campus housing has a maximum vacancy rate of five per cent.
The agreements also continue the Nova Scotia University Student Bursary program, which reduces tuition by $1,283 for Nova Scotian students with a full-time course load. Nova Scotian students will also be given preferred admission in undergraduate health and bachelor of education programs beginning Jan. 1, 2026.
Universities will be required to increase work-integrated learning opportunities to ensure students have job-ready skills, the news release said.
Program reviews
Universities have previously expressed concern about Bill 12, legislation that would increase government oversight of schools, forcing them to align academic programs with the government's social and economic priorities, and allowing the minister of advanced education to appoint up to half of members on the board of governors.
It appears that some of those priorities are reflected in the agreements.
The news release says the agreements include a stipulation that universities must undergo a program review to ensure they "meet current educational standards, respond to labour market demands and are economically viable."
An internal memo from Acadia University president Jeffrey Hennessy that was obtained by CBC News this week called program rationalization — which he said involves reducing or discontinuing programs with low labour market need, low utilization and high program costs — was "perhaps the most sweeping and impactful section of the agreement."
The agreements also impose new financial reporting requirements that will be reviewed each year.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
13 hours ago
- CBC
Metro Vancouver releases salary information of top-paid employees
The top salaries for Metro Vancouver's regional government have been released. The organization has been criticized for how much it pays its top earners, and while the new numbers show decreases, CBC News' Justin McElroy reports that they're still likely to raise some eyebrows.
a day ago
Immigration minister defends sweeping new powers in border bill
Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab is defending controversial new measures in the Strong Borders Act, such as giving her office the power to cancel immigration documents en masse and placing time limits for asylum seekers to make their applications. There's a lot of applications in the system. We need to act fairly, and treat people appropriately who really do need to claim asylum and who really do need to be protected to stay in Canada, Diab told CBC News. We need to be more efficient in doing that. At the same time, Canadians demand that we have a system that works for everyone. Introduced in the House of Commons on Tuesday, Bill C-2, the Strong Borders Act, is meant to protect Canadian sovereignty, strengthen the border and keep Canadians safe, according to the federal government. The bill would make dozens of amendments to existing laws. Its proposed changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act would force asylum seekers entering the country, including students and temporary residents, to make claims within a year. Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab said mass cancellations of immigration documents would not be done without careful consideration by cabinet. Photo: CBC / Mark Crosby The new law would also require irregular border crossers, people who enter Canada between official ports of entry, to make an asylum claim within 14 days of arriving in Canada. And it would speed up voluntary departures by making removal orders effective the same day an asylum claim is withdrawn. Groups such as the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers are raising concerns about these measures. There are a few categories of people who may end up making a claim after they've been in Canada for more than one year for fully legitimate reasons, said Adam Sadinsky, the group's advocacy co-chair. He cited examples such as changes in government in someone's country of origin, the breakout of conflict or their human rights advocacy in Canada placing a target on them. They may now be in danger returning back home in a way that they weren't when they first arrived, he said. Federal government data shows some 39,445 asylum claimants processed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency between January and April. (new window) Sadinsky said if the government's motivations are about clearing backlogs, it may be creating another problem. Asylum seekers who find their application rejected by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada can file appeals to the Refugee Appeal Division. However, shutting them out of the asylum route after a year could make them turn to the Federal Court of Canada for recourse instead, a body that has been public (new window) about its own courtrooms facing severe delays with immigration cases. It's a lot more work for the court, Sadinsky said, when people start getting removal dates from Canada and they have to ask the court for motions for stays of removal from Canada. Sadinsky suggested the government could have reduced backlogs by issuing blanket approvals for would-be asylum seekers from countries where Canada recognizes there is an imminent danger to sending them back, such as Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. WATCH: Public safety minister says border bill will give law enforcement better tools to deal with crime Début du widget Widget. Passer le widget ? Fin du widget Widget. Retourner au début du widget ? Public safety minister says border bill will give law enforcement better tools to deal with crime Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said Bill C-2, the Strong Borders Act, will 'keep our borders secure, combat transnational organized crime, stop the flow of illegal fentanyl and crack down on money laundering,' as well as 'enhance the integrity and fairness of our immigration system.' Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Justice Minister Sean Fraser said the government needed to act, though he recognized courts are facing efficiency problems. We need to be able to do two things at once, he said about changing the asylum system and reducing court backlogs. Reached for comment, the office of the chief justice of the Federal Court said in a statement it would simply hope that any potential impact on the court's workload would be taken into account, citing a previous amendment to immigration law under Stephen Harper's Conservative government in 2010 that included four new court positions. Mass cancellation powers The Migrant Rights Network, an advocacy group, said it is alarmed about the government giving itself the ability to cancel previously issued immigration documents in large groups. What this is, is setting up of a mass deportation machine, said its spokesperson Syed Hussan. Just go out and say we're walking away from the Geneva Convention. Diab said any mass cancellation decisions would be taken by the whole cabinet, not just her office, and they would not be done lightly. These are in exceptional circumstances, when you're talking about mass cancellation or suspension, she said. For example, when COVID happened, we literally had applications coming in, and the system had no authority to suspend or cancel those applications … we could have health risks again. We could have security risks. Bill C-2 is now moving through Parliament. The legislation would normally be studied by parliamentary committee next, though neither Diab nor Gary Anandasangaree, the public safety minister, could say which committee would pick it up. Committees have not been named yet for this sitting and it is unclear if they will before Parliament wraps up for the summer at the end of June. The Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers said it intends to write a letter outlining its concerns to the federal government, and would hope to present at committee when the moment arrives. Raffy Boudjikanian (new window) · CBC News ·
2 days ago
Israel recovers bodies of Canadian Israeli Judih Weinstein Haggai and husband held by Hamas
Israel's military recovered the bodies of two hostages, Canadian Israeli Judih Weinstein Haggai and her husband, Israeli American Gadi Haggai, who were held by Hamas, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday. The Israeli army said in a statement that the bodies of the husband and wife were recovered in a special operation from the Khan Younis area in the Gaza Strip. Together with all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I extend our heartfelt condolences to the dear families. Our hearts ache for the most terrible loss. May their memory be blessed, Netanyahu said in a statement. Kibbutz Nir Oz announced the deaths of Weinstein Haggai, 70, and Haggai, 72, both of whom had Israeli and U.S. citizenship, in December 2023. The Israeli military said they were killed in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack and taken into Gaza by the Mujahideen Brigades, the small armed group that it said had also abducted and killed Shiri Bibas and her two small children. Weinstein Haggai grew up in Canada and held Canadian and U.S. citizenship. She was born in New York state but moved to Toronto at the age of three, and then moved to Israel 20 years later to live with Haggai. She was a mother of four and a grandmother of seven. 56 hostages still held by Hamas An Israeli group formed after Oct. 7, the Hostages Families Forum Headquarters, expressed gratitude for the development in a statement. The return is painful and heartbreaking, yet it also brings healing to our uncertainty, the statement read. "Their return reminds us all that it is the state's duty to bring everyone home, so that we, the families, together with all the people of Israel, can begin the process of healing and recovery. WATCH l Weinstein Haggai's niece spoke to CBC News in 2023 about her aunt's strength, character: Début du widget Widget. Passer le widget ? Fin du widget Widget. Retourner au début du widget ? 'Sleepless nights' for family of Canadian missing since Oct. 7 Hamas attacks Ali Weinstein, who spoke about her aunt Judih Weinstein Haggai in an exclusive interview with CBC's Heather Hiscox, says her family has 'no information' about their beloved relative — who is believed to be among those being held in Gaza. Weinstein Haggai was among several Canadian citizens (new window) killed in the Oct. 7 attacks. Israel believes there are still 56 hostages held by Hamas, with fewer than half believed to be alive. The hostages' forum group cited that number in its statement, calling on the warring sides to facilitate their return. There is no need to wait another 608 agonizing days for this. The mission can be completed as early as tomorrow morning, the group said. Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza following the Oct. 7 assault in which Hamas-led gunmen killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, by Israeli tallies. In the subsequent fighting, more than 54,000 Palestinians have been killed, local health authorities say. Thomson Reuters with files from CBC News and The Associated Press
