The following op-ed by Sharon DeSousa, PSAC National President, was published in The Hill Times

At post-secondary campuses across Canada, around two million students are wrapping up their studies. Many of these bright-eyed, hopeful students will one day become our future leaders in our communities, businesses and on the political stage.  

That’s why it’s so essential to have a well-funded, accessible post-secondary system. A strong academic sector plays a pivotal role in the future of Canada’s innovation and economic growth on the world stage. Unfortunately, after years of chronic underfunding and neglect, accessible post-secondary education in Canada is in crisis and at risk of collapsing.  

Many provinces have systematically underfunded post-secondary institutions. This has been leading to financial instability, program cuts, and precarious employment for faculty and staff. Federal funding commitments in Budget 2024 provided some relief, but they didn’t go far enough. Now with a new mandate, Prime Minister Mark Carney has an opportunity to set a new agenda. One where funding is long-term, predictable and not focused on political whims. 

With the unpredictable nature of government funding, universities and colleges were forced to find ways to bridge the gap, often through program cuts and tuition hikes. They’ve increasingly relied on international student tuition fees to stay afloat. Post-secondary institutions should never have had to depend on international students to keep their doors open – our government must invest in a system that serves all students fairly and equitably. 

There are solutions on the table. In 2021, NDP MP Heather McPherson introduced Bill C-312, the Canada Post-Secondary Education Act. It would have established a separate federal funding transfer for post-secondary education. To receive these funds, provinces would need to meet certain criteria ensuring accessibility, affordability and quality. This bill represented a crucial step toward making post-secondary education a national priority. 

Beyond just keeping institutions open, Canada must also strengthen funding for research and innovation. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) all provide essential funding for world-class research. Without robust investment in these tri-council agencies, Canada risks lagging in scientific and technological advancements. 

Prime Minister Carney is set to build his cabinet and the government’s agenda soon. Post-secondary education needs to be one of the top priorities. Committing to making higher education stronger will not just benefit students and researchers but it bolsters Canada’s competitiveness and leadership worldwide.  

In his victory speech, Prime Minister Carney has urged us to be ambitious, to be bold and to face this time of crisis head-on. If he plans to build Canada strong, then strengthening our country’s post-secondary system needs to be a central pillar of this plan.