Navigating Recent Policy Changes to Canada’s International Student Program

BC Federation of Students
BC Federation of Students
Nov 05, 2024 7 min read
Please note: the information provided above is not in any way a substitution for advice from an immigration lawyer or legal immigration consultant. Students should make use of registered immigration consultants and lawyers should they need further advice or clarification on application processes. Since...

Every Vote Counts: 2024 BC Election Decided by the Slimmest Margins

BC Federation of Students
BC Federation of Students
Oct 29, 2024 4 min read
Provincial Election Results After waiting more than a week, while Elections BC completed the final count for the 2024 Provincial General Election, the results are in! The deadlock has ended with the BC New Democratic Party holding onto 47 seats, the BC Conservative Party electing 44 seats, and the BC...

The Power of Your Vote: Why Young People Will Decide This Election

Jessie Niikoi
Jessie Niikoi
Sep 20, 2024 2 min read
Hey everyone, You might have heard that there’s a provincial election this Fall, and if you’re anything like me, you’re probably thinking about what’s at stake. The chatter around voting is growing louder, and it’s not just noise—it’s a call to action. This year, young people like us have the...

Students Return to Campus with Optimism Amidst Financial Challenges

BC Federation of Students
BC Federation of Students
Sep 03, 2024 2 min read
NEW WESTMINSTER—As students across the province head to college and university campuses today, the energy is high, and hope is in the air. Along with the excitement of a new year, students are also facing incredible financial challenges as they balance paying tuition, buying new textbooks and course materials, all...

BCFS Successful in Challenging Vancouver Island University’s Effort to Limit Students’ Rights

BC Federation of Students
BC Federation of Students
Aug 19, 2024 9 min read
An Update for Members on the BC Federation of Students Intervention in Vancouver Island University’s Injunction Request Against the VIU Palestine Solidarity Encampment On July 15, 2024, Vancouver Island University (VIU) commenced a civil action in the Supreme Court of British Columbia, seeking injunctive relief and damages from the VIU...

Celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day: Honoring our Culture and Embracing Diversity

Leah Vaisanen
Leah Vaisanen
Jun 21, 2024 2 min read
National Indigenous Peoples Day is a day in which our people gather for a vibrant and vital occasion to recognize and celebrate our beautiful culture, history, and all the work Indigenous people are doing across the nation. This day on the calendar is more than just a date, it is everyday. It is a time to reflect, educate, and engage with the diverse traditions and histories of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.

Students React to Government of Canada’s Budget 2024

BC Federation of Students
BC Federation of Students
Apr 18, 2024 5 min read
The Federal government’s Budget 2024 contains a number of investments for young Canadians that take aim at affordability and generational fairness, specifically by targeting programs that serve younger Canadian’s aspirations. The budget includes measures that will help young people including investments in housing, loan forgiveness for students graduating from specific programs that choose to work in rural and remote communities, and investments in mental health and employment supports for young people. It also includes investments to support low-income and Indigenous learners; while these investments were smaller than students were hoping for, they are steps in the right direction during a cost-of-living crisis.

BC Budget 2024: No Funding Cuts, yet no Critical Investments Either

BC Federation of Students
BC Federation of Students
Mar 05, 2024 5 min read
BC government’s Budget 2024 fails to address the critical needs of students and institutions. For years, students have been calling for the government to significantly invest in public post-secondary institutions to decrease the financial burden downloaded to students by tuition fees. Though Budget 2024 provided investments of a billion dollars in capital projects across the post-secondary sector and did not present funding cuts to the post-secondary sector, it still fails to make up for decades of decreased operational budgets of institutions. Further, it has no fiscal measures that address the impending budgetary complications brought on by the federal government’s 35% reduction and cap on international student permits.