The World of Higher Education Podcast Listen now →

The World of Higher Education Podcast Listen now →

Category: Budgets

Supporting Students or Institutions?

Over the last few years I have noted a significant trend in provincial government spending across Canada, one which we termed “feed the student, starve the schools”.  Basically, governments are a lot happier giving money to the children of middle-class   voters  students than they are to universities and colleges because there are more votes there.  And besides, that way you can claim you’re doing something for access (even if the dollars are sometimes targeted inefficiently). Well, OK.  But access isn’t everything. 

Read More »
February 13, 2018 No Comments

Some Quick Naylor-related Federal Budget Advice

I see from this CTV story that Federal Budget Trial Balloon Leaking Season has begun.  This is the time of year when Liberals decide they would like to get applause for a decision more than once, and so they pre-announce various bits of the budget so they can have good news spread over more than just budget day (the Tories, whatever you think about the news management policies generally, tended to be much more fastidious about budget secrecy).  And the first leak

Read More »
February 8, 2018 1 Comment

So, that Finance Committee Report then

Today’s blog is a quick tour of the House of Commons Finance Committee report – released last month – as it relates to science and post-secondary education. For the uninitiated, the Government of Canada’s budget process goes something like this: starting in late spring – maybe two months after the pervious budget – the political side of the Finance Department starts canvassing around government for big ideas (“themes” as they are known in the business).  MPs spend some of their time over

Read More »
January 17, 2018 1 Comment

Atlantic Blues

One big story from out east that didn’t get a lot of play in the rest of the country was the news that the Nova Scotia government had, over the period 2013-2017, quietly bailed out Acadia University to the tune of $24 million.  This is of course the second time a Nova Scotia government has bailed out this decade: the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (NSCAD) received about $10 million. This isn’t really a partisan thing: it was an NDP

Read More »
October 2, 2017 No Comments

Fundamental Choices on Fundamental Science

The federal government has been somewhat quiet on the subject of science funding since the release of the Fundamental Science Review (see previous blogs here here and here) back in April.  Within much of the scientific community, which for the most part fell head over heels in love with the Report, this has given cause for concern; personally, I think this is pretty much par for the course, and we aren’t likely to see much in the way of hints about the size of any possible

Read More »
August 29, 2017 1 Comment

One Thought to Start Your Day

One Thought to Start Your Day is our founder and CEO Alex Usher’s popular daily blog, brimming with up-to-the-minute insights and informed opinions on today’s higher education industry.

Subscribe

Search Posts

Search Publications

Social Media

Linkedin Youtube Spotify

Recent Posts

More thoughts on...