Thursday March 12, 2026 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
The Vancouver Community College Faculty Association (VCCFA) held a rally yesterday to protest cuts to Vancouver Community College (VCC) programs, teachers and students.
The VCCFA said that the college has announced a cut of 75 faculty at Vancouver Community College, which they identify as the fifth round of double-digit cuts in two years.
A similar protest was held in April 2025, also identifying the change in federal international student visa policy as impacting international students registrations (which produce tuition income for most post-secondary institutions).
Ministry acknowledges tuition decline:
In response to questions from Island Social Trends on this issue of post-secondary funding and cuts to faculty, the Ministry of Post Secondary and Future Skills has provided a statement.
The Ministry says that most post-secondary institutions are facing financial challenges, notably from “precipitous” federal reductions in international study permits.
Deficit not recommended:
The Ministry recommends that VCC act to cope within the current financial reality and “operate within the resources available to them”. That doesn’t provide any protection from cuts as are likely to impact faculty, programs and students.
The Ministry strongly implies that any post-secondary institution should very carefully consider going into a deficit position.
The Ministry says that deficit approvals for a public post‑secondary institution are an extraordinary and time‑limited measure, producing a result that the Ministry considers short-sighted and unsustainable.
Province feels it is doing its part:
The Ministry says that “annual funding” for post-secondary has increased by $1.2 billion, bringing the annual total provincial investment to $3.2 billion. They express ‘hope’ that the funding is being put to best use.
The Ministry does note “flat domestic enrollment”, which is likely due to the cost of living struggles of people who are students or might consider becoming students but takes no responsibility for that dynamic.
Despite slow domestic enrollment and the sharp drop in international student registrations, the Province doesn’t seem to feel it’s their role to respond proactively to external factors in a way that woulds shore-up the delivery of post-secondary education. Yet the province is well aware that it needs more workers — not only to fulfill various functions in society but also to boost their income tax revenues.
“The BC Provincial Government must step in at this time of unprecedented crisis,” says Frank Cosco, VCCFA President, in a news release earlier this week.
Revenue assumptions revealed vulnerability:
Underlying this crisis is how the Province let the reliance of post-secondary institutions on international tuition revenue continue as if it would never have interruptions.
The assumption of that revenue source – combined with a long-time lack of policy to see that post-secondary education is funding in a stable way — is the Achilles heel of the post-secondary funding crisis.
The current situation forces post-secondary institutions to function as businesses; while business operational principles are essential for any organization, the role of post-secondary as a service to society has been left vulnerable from a provincial policy perspective.
Program impacts:
Last year VCC’s Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada program saw cuts.
This year, VCCFA lists these health-care programs as where cuts are likely to happen: Nursing, Dental Assisting, Dental Hygiene, Continuing Care, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and Deaf Studies Programs.
Island Social Trends asked the Ministry for a comment on the presumed cutback-related impacts to delivering health-care training even though the Province is well aware that the health-care sector is short-staffed in many areas. There was no response on that particular point.
Here is the full statement:
Statement from the Ministry of Post Secondary and Future Skills
As provided to Island Social Trends | March 12, 2026
“Education is the foundation of opportunity. Vancouver Community College (VCC), like most other public post-secondary institutions, is facing financial challenges stemming from a number of compounding factors, notably unilateral federal reductions to international study permits.
“We know many institutions, including VCC, are already taking meaningful steps to strengthen their financial positions and operate within the resources available to them, while working hard to minimize the impact of budget decisions on students, faculty, and staff. We recognize that these decisions can be difficult, but the steps institutions are taking will help strengthen their financial resilience, which is fundamental for the sector’s long‑term stability and strength.
“We’ve heard clearly from partners about the financial challenges they are facing. That’s why we’ve launched an independent review to strengthen the public post‑secondary education system and ensure it is sustainable and well‑positioned to support people in British Columbia and the Province’s economic growth, today and well into the future.
“Since forming government in 2017, we’ve continued to make substantial investments in post secondary education. Annual funding for the sector has increased by $1.2 billion, bringing the current total to $3.2 billion every year. In light of flat domestic enrollment, as well as the precipitous drop in international student enrollment, we are hopeful that the review will identify opportunities to ensure the substantial funding we continue to invest is being optimized and directed to support institutions in the most effective and sustainable way possible.”
Background information from the Ministry:
- The Ministry received a submission from Vancouver Community College Faculty Association regarding the Post-Sector Sustainability Review on January 22, 2026, with a follow‑up submission provided on February 23, 2026.
- Using an accumulated surplus to fund programs assumes that VCC would run a deficit. Under the University Act and the College and Institute Act, post-secondary institutions are required to obtain approval from the Ministers of Finance and Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills prior to running deficits.
- Deficit approvals for a public post‑secondary institution are an extraordinary and time‑limited measure. Operating deficits carry significant risks for post-secondary institutions. Deficits are not a sustainable way to manage short‑term operating pressures, as they deplete reserves, increase solvency risk, and can undermine an institution’s long‑term financial health.
- While the Ministry provides funding for public post-secondary institutions, under governing legislation, institutions are responsible for the administration of their services, including the operations of their programs, staffing and managing their budgets. The Ministry would consider the use of accumulated surpluses to cover structural deficits as a shortsighted approach that is not financially sustainable.
===== RELATED:
Vancouver Community College faculty protesting cuts (March 10, 2026)
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