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Provincial Budget 2020 Consultations: Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services Report

September 30, 2019

Underinvestment, academic autonomy, graduate scholarship, and the Knowledge Development Fund — read our submission to the Committee and an analysis of their final recommendations regarding advanced education.

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Each year, the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services submits a report to the legislative assembly following its public provincial budget consultation.

This year, CUFA BC’s President and Executive Director presented to the Committee. We also provided a formal written submission.

Our recommendations focused on underfunding of post-secondary institutions, academic autonomy, expansion of the graduate scholarship program, and changes to the Knowledge Development Fund program.

The Committee’s final report focused on issues of international student fees and contract faculty, followed by student supports, capital infrastructure, research, and literacy. It appears that the most effective requests for government funding capitalize on student issues, despite there being many other issues in advanced education that are worth attending to.

Download the PDF to read our recommendations, a summary of other opinions provided in the consultation, and an analysis of the Committee’s final report.

“A few clear takeaways from us: the problematic role of PSEC in collective bargaining; the chronic underfunding of post-secondary; and a request to establish a provincial strategy for targeted investments in research and innovation.”

- Excerpt

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