BC Federation of Students Reissues Warning on Precarious Funding Model and Over-reliance on International Student Tuition Fees

BC Federation of Students
BC Federation of Students
Sep 21, 2023 4 min read
The BC Federation of Students (BCFS) is reissuing an urgent warning about the precarity and vulnerability created by the overreliance on international student tuition fees to fund the province’s public post-secondary education system. The BCFS has published a new research document, International Education in British Columbia: Keeping the Post-secondary System Afloat, highlighting systemic underfunding and a lack of regulation of international tuition fee increases, which have led institutions to lean on international student tuition fees to make up for budget and funding shortfalls.
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Statement of Support for the 2SLGBTQIA+ Community. The BC Federation of Students Denounces Anti-Trans Hate Across Canada.

BC Federation of Students
BC Federation of Students
Sep 20, 2023 < 1 min read
As the BC Federation of Students, we stand firmly against all forms of hate, discrimination, and prejudice. We are deeply saddened by the rise in hate-fueled anti-2SLGBTQIA+ rhetoric and denounce the rallies taking place in Canada. It is crucial that we all speak out loudly and take action to oppose any action that threatens the rights of 2SLGBTQIA+ community members.
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Post-Secondary Students Start a New Academic Year Amidst a Growing Affordability Crisis

BC Federation of Students
BC Federation of Students
Sep 05, 2023 2 min read
Welcome to the Fall Semester! Across British Columbia, post-secondary campuses are abuzz with fresh faces and returning students, eager to begin their studies and join in on the welcome week events students’ unions and institutions have planned. However, the back-to-school enthusiasm is mixed with concerns about the growing affordability crisis facing students in BC and across Canada.
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Letter of Support for Teaching Support Staff Union

BC Federation of Students
BC Federation of Students
Jul 06, 2023 2 min read
On behalf of the 170,000 members, the British Columbia Federation of Students, I am writing this letter to express our full support for the Teaching Support Staff Union (TSSU) during their ongoing strike at Simon Fraser University (SFU).
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Students see an $814 million investment from the Federal Government

BC Federation of Students
BC Federation of Students
Mar 28, 2023 1 min read
OTTAWA—Budget 2023 contains an investment of $814 million into the Canada Student Grant Program, allowing eligible students up to $4,200 in non-repayable student aid starting August 1. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, students received up to $3,000 in non-repayable student aid.
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Budget 2023: more investments in post-secondary funding needed

BC Federation of Students
BC Federation of Students
Feb 28, 2023 2 min read
VICTORIA— The BC government’s 2023 Budget includes provisions to increase student financial assistance, but without significant and sustained funding increases to post-secondary institutions, post-secondary education will remain out of reach for BC students and their families. In Budget 2023, the provincial operating grant is increasing 5%, which is less than this year’s inflation and ultimately a reduction in funding to institutions.
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Throne Speech leaves students hopeful for Budget 2023

BC Federation of Students
BC Federation of Students
Feb 07, 2023 1 min read
NEW WESTMINSTER—Monday’s Speech from the Throne leaves students hopeful that Budget 2023 will include provisions that increase funding to post-secondary institutions in the province. The Speech spoke to the government introducing Future Ready: a skills-training plan to make education more accessible, affordable, and relevant.
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Lobby Week 2022

BC Federation of Students
BC Federation of Students
Oct 31, 2022 3 min read
Building a post-secondary system that is of high quality and accessible to all learners in British Columbia is at the heart of what the BCFS stands for. That’s why student representatives from across the province head to Victoria to meet with MLAs to discuss the issues impacting students and to push for meaningful change.
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Students Applaud Federal Decision to Allow International Students to Work Without Limitations

Federal Student Advocacy Alliance
Federal Student Advocacy Alliance
Oct 07, 2022 4 min read
Students from across Canada applaud the Liberal Government’s decision to lift the limits on the number of hours international students can work off campus. The program, which starts November 15, 2022, is slated to end December 31, 2023 and will allow the over 600,000 international students studying in Canada to increase the number of hours they can work off campus beyond 20 hours.
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National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Quinn Cunningham
Quinn Cunningham
Sep 29, 2022 3 min read
Trigger Warning: topics of residential school, colonialism, genocide. September 30th is a solemn day for Indigenous peoples; take this day to care for yourself, to spend time with family, or with other relations on the land. I encourage folks to take the spaces made for you and navigate them with your heart; whether that looks like supporting somebody, showing up for an event, or taking a step back from social media and spending time in places that heal you.
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