Sask. budget's funding for universities gets mixed reviews - Action News
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Saskatchewan

Sask. budget's funding for universities gets mixed reviews

Saskatchewan's latest budget included a 3.3 per cent increase from last year, but operating and capital grants for the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan decreased.

U of R faculty association says further increases needed to avoid staff cuts

Woman reading from a university textbook stacked on top of other textbooks
Saskatchewan's latest budget provides an overall 3.3 per cent funding increase for post-secondary insitutions. (Adam Berry/Getty Images)

The funding for universitiesin Saskatchewan's budget for 2023-24 has received mixed reactions.

The faculty association at the University of Regina says itis not enough to stave off staff cuts, while the University of Saskatchewan's provost says it is a positive step.

The latest budget included $764.8 million for post-secondary education sector in the upcoming fiscal year a $24.5 million or 3.3 per cent increase from last year.The provincial government and Saskatchewan's universities are entering the third year of a four-year funding agreement aimed at providing stabilityfor post-secondary schools.

Saskatchewan post-secondary institutions are setto receive $697.4 million in operating and capital grants in the third year of the agreement.

The University of Saskatchewan, the University of Regina and their associated collegeswill receive $431.8 million of that, down from $445.9 million in the2022-2023 budget. There is also funding for some infrastructure projects, including $8.7 million for electrical infrastructure at the U of S and $4 million for renovations at the U of S dental clinic.

Britt Hall, the president of University of Regina's faculty association, was disappointed bythe new budget.

Hall saidtheU of R has asked its faculties and administration to reduce budgets by five to seven per cent as a result of financial difficulties during the pandemic and rising inflationary pressures.

"There was a little bit of money it looks like, but when we tried to do some digging as to specifics on that we were unable to find any answers," Hall said.

A woman with grey hair and glasses stands in front of a microphone at the rotunda of the legislature building in Regina, Sask.
Britt Hall is the president of the University of Regina Faculty Association (URFA) and a professor of biology at the University of Regina. (CBC/Radio-Canada)

Staff cuts on the way

Hall said the U of R will have to cut some of its staff unless the government increases its funding, because the current increases aren't enough to match inflationary pressures. Hall referenced the $1-billion surplus in the budget.

"I suspect there could still be emergency or transition funding if they choose, but it certainly wasn't provided in the budget and we have been calling for that."

Hall saidsessional staff will be cut, increasingthe workload for the remaining professors, creating more mental stress and reducing time for research.

She added the cuts could result in fewer classes being offered and some programs being in jeopardy.

Politician speaking to reporters
NDP advance education critic Jennifer Bowes says the budget should cover the costs of inflation and enrolment growth in the province. (Rob Kruk/CBC)

NDPadvanced education critic Jennifer Bowes said the increasein post-secondary funding was not enough.

"We are are concerned that his budget contributes to the erosion of the publicly funded education system in Saskatchewan," Bowes said.

"We were expecting and hoping for a budget that meets the expectations of covering the cost of inflation and covering enrolment growth in this province."

This is a positive budget: U of S provost

Airini, the University of Saskatchewan's provost, saidthe institution welcomes the new budget.

"Overall this is a positive budget in which the government's continuing to invest in post-secondary and our shared priorities for Saskatchewan," Airini said.

"We are still working on analyzing the budget materials. At first glance though, the government investment is a positive signal in building a stronger Saskatchewan."

woman standing in front of grey background
Airini, who goes by just one name, is the provost and vice-president academic at the University of Saskatchewan. (Submitted by the University of Saskatchewan)

Airini said the government is showing confidence in the contributions the post-secondary sector can make.

"We are aware that there are challenges that we're all facing through inflation, and through recovering from COVID and its impact on the economy. For the University of Saskatchewan,we're strong because of the multi-year funding approach," Airini said.

"This multi-year funding approach really allows the university to build to advance and to do so with predictability."

Airini saidthe U of S would welcome the opportunity to sit down with the government to discuss continued partnerships once the multi-year funding agreement ends.

With files from Colleen Silverthorn