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CBC
07-08-2025
- Business
- CBC
More layoffs hit Sask Polytechnic as international student enrolment drops
Saskatchewan Polytechnic is cutting jobs for the second time this year to deal with declining tuition revenue as fewer international students come to the province for higher education. The school attributes the big drop in international enrolment to changes in Ottawa's immigration policies, including the cap on student visas. International students pay more than domestic students for the same courses. Sask Polytech recently sent layoff notices to 14 out-of-scope employees and will not fill eight vacant positions. The school also axed 27 jobs in April. "A significant decline in international student enrolment has created a substantial revenue shortfall for the 2025-26 academic year," said a Sask Polytech statement sent to CBC News. "More difficult decisions will be necessary in the months ahead." Saskatchewan Polytechnic announces layoffs The school is facing a budget shortfall of up to $15 million, according to the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Faculty Association (SPFA). "We are deeply concerned about the impact this will have on the quality of education, student support, and long-term program viability across the province," SPFA president Michelle Downton said in a statement. "For years, Saskatchewan Polytechnic has relied on international tuition revenue to bridge the gap left by stagnant or insufficient provincial funding. That model has now become unsustainable." As in April, the school did not specify what positions, departments or programs are affected by this round of layoffs. Sask Polytech has around 2,000 full-time equivalent employees across all departments and labour groups, according to its 2023-24 annual report. The Saskatchewan Polytechnic Students' Association said students are concerned, but understand the financial pressures on the school. "We believe that the institution is really trying its best to combat the situation and … that their focus is students first," association president Rosby James said. In the 2023-24 academic year, 4,327 international students were enrolled in Sask Polytech programs across its four campuses, according to the school's most recent annual report. Five years ago, that number was 1,701. But international student enrolment has been down across Saskatchewan since the federal government announced a cap on student visas in 2024. The University of Regina said earlier this year that the number of newly admitted international students declined more than 50 per cent this past winter term compared to January 2024. The University of Saskatchewan also said earlier this year that preliminary numbers suggested a 20 per cent decrease in new international students. Political reaction On Thursday, Saskatchewan's Opposition NDP said the province is under-funding Sask Polytech and post-secondary education in general. "The Sask Party should have never starved our post-secondary schools of funding, made them so dependent on international student fees," NDP critic for advanced education Tajinder Grewal said. "Tuition fees for international students is 3.5 to 4.5 times higher than domestic students. They used to provide a very critical revenue for this post-secondary institution." In a statement, the provincial government singled out the federal student visa cap for declining enrolment. "The Government of Saskatchewan has been and continues to advocate for our post-secondary institutions to the federal government on this issue," the province's statement said. The statement did not specify what the province is advocating for at the federal level.
Daily Record
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Callum McGregor pays Simon Murray the ultimate compliment as Celtic skipper champions Dundee standout
Celtic skipper Callum McGregor joined the bulging Simon Murray fan club and then backed the in-form striker to smash it for Scotland if Steve Clarke comes calling.. The 33-year-old is Scottish football's Cinderella man after rising from the Juniors to Premiership joint top scorer alongside Daizen Maeda on 16 goals. And the forward is vital to Dundee in their battle to avoid the relegation play-off trap door slamming in their face. McGregor has been left seriously impressed by the make-up of his fellow SPFA player of the year nominee and his knack for making the difference when it matters most. The Parkhead captain said: "He's done amazing. Probably the one if I had to pick outside Celtic , he has probably been the outstanding candidate. He's scored a lot of goals, he's scored in big games and he's actually played really well against us as well. "So he's given us problems. I always look at who's been good against us as well and try to pick somebody from that. He more than deserves his place here." Murray's form at his hometown club comes off the back of his talismanic role with both Ross County and Queen's Park. And McGregor sees no reason why the man who has walked a road less ordinary can't also find his pot of gold at the end of the rainbow in the form of national team recognition. He added: "I think he's done amazing. He's the type of guy that would represent Scotland in the best possible way. He works as hard as he possibly can. He's sprinting about the pitch constantly. He's always trying to help his team. "He's trying to set the tone. And then when you score that number of goals as well, then you know he's got a goal in him. Like I said, he'd probably be the perfect candidate. If he was going to get there in the summer, then who knows." Clarke will name his squad next month for the friendlies with Iceland and Liechtenstein and summer exhibition matches have often been a shot for national team bosses to think outside the box. McGregor reckons age is only a number for the forward as he aims to cap a remarkable climb through the ranks. He said: "You've seen everybody has different journeys and you see some of the England boys as well that have come in late on and done really well. Same with Scotland as well. "I don't think there should ever be an age limit on when you can get back in the squad or get your first cap or whatever it is. "If you're doing well at the moment - of course you need a bit of luck as well - then I don't think there should be a limit on that. If you're doing well and you deserve it, then you should be in."
