- B.C. Home
- For the Record
- Children
- Child Care in B.C.
- Facts on Changes for Children and Families with Special Needs
- Facts on Funding for Students with Special Needs
- Increased Funding Enhances Services for Children in Care
- Provincial Investments In Literacy
- Province Places Emphasis on Early Learning Programs
- Supports for Youth in Care
- Waitlist Facts for Children and Youth with Special Needs
- Communities
- Community Development Trust Supports Forest Workers
- Funding Priorities for 2009/10 Community Gaming Grants
- Government Supports Sport In British Columbia
- Tourism Investments in B.C.
- Government Supports the Arts in British Columbia
- Supports for Victims of Crime in Merritt
- Improvement in Domestic Violence Prevention Since 2001
- Supports for Victims of Crime and Domestic Violence
- Provincial Support for Heritage Properties
- Province Continues Strong Support of Special Olympics
- Democratic Reform and Accountability
- Economy
- HST and Municipalities
- Agriculture Plan Highlights
- B.C. and Canada Finalize Olympic Security Arrangement
- British Columbia's Asia Pacific Initiative
- Economic Foundation in B.C. Remains Strong
- Facts about 2010 Olympics
- Facts on Harmonized Sales Tax
- Vancouver Convention Centre by the Numbers
- BC Place by the Numbers
- Facts About the BC Place Upgrade
- Facts about Mountain Pine Beetle Response
- Facts about Reforestation in B.C.
- Facts on Mining in British Columbia
- Facts on Public-Private Partnerships
- Facts on the Coastal Forest Sector
- Government Support for Ranchers, Meat Processors
- Mid-Rise Wood Frame Construction
- Removing Private Land from Tree Farm Licences
- Stronger Forest Sector for Communities
- Education
K-12- Vancouver Board of Education(SD 39) Finances
- The Facts on Declining Enrolment in B.C. Schools
- Foundation Skills Assessment
- Government Supports Sport In British Columbia
- School Seismic Mitigation Program
- Safe Schools
- Healthy Schools
- Unprecedented Investment in B.C. Education
- Making Education in B.C. Better Since 2001
- Class Size
- Province Increases Funds for School Lunch Program
- Provincial Investments In Literacy
- Province Places Emphasis on Early Learning Programs
- Education
Post-Secondary - Environment
- Bill 27 Helps Ensure 2020 GHG Reductions are Met
- British Columbia's Climate Action Plan
- Facts on B.C. Aquaculture
- Facts on BC Energy Plan
- Facts on Independent Power Production in British Columbia
- Facts on Offshore Oil and Gas Development
- Facts on The Vancouver Island Transmission Project (VITR)
- Facts on Uranium Mining in British Columbia
- Regulation of Logging in Community Watersheds
- Sustainable Environmental Stewardship of the Flathead
- First Nations
- Health Care
- B.C. Recognizes Important Role of Family Physicians
- Capital Investments in Health
- Facts on BC Ambulance Service
- Facts on Health Professionals
- Facts on Patient Wait Times
- Facts on Pharmacare
- Facts on Seniors Care in B.C.
- Facts on Zion Park Manor
- Health Care Reality Check
- Improving Seniors Care Since 2001
- Patient Safety in B.C.
- Provincial Acute Care Capacity
- Update on Paramedic Strike
- Labour and Workers
- Apprenticeship Training in British Columbia
- B.C. Provincial Nominee Program
- Community Development Trust Supports Forest Workers
- Facts about Construction Safety
- Facts on Construction Crane Safety in B.C.
- The Facts on Wages and Jobs in B.C.
- Facts on Paramedic Wages in B.C.
- Foreign Workers and Employment Standards
- Increased Protection for B.C. Farm Workers
- Skills Connect for Immigrants Program
- People in Need
- Community Living Eligibility Criteria Remains the Same
- Facts about Disaster Financial Assistance
- Housing Achievements in British Columbia
- HPO Reconstruction Loan Program Ended
- Income Assistance Caseload Facts
- Legal Aid Funding in British Columbia
- Province Delivers Supportive Housing in Victoria
- Province Helps Almost 900 Homeless People Find Homes
- Provincial Supports for Children & Low-Income Families
- Public Safety
- Budget 2009 and the Justice System
- Combating Drinking and Driving
- Combating Gangs
- Facts on Con Air
- Facts on Disaster Financial Assistance
- Facts on Fraser River Gravel Deposits
- Filmon Progress Report
- Flood Mitigation and Gravel Removal
- Forest Fire Prevention: Everyone's Responsibility
- How the B.C. Government Helps Victims of Crime
- Improvement in Domestic Violence Prevention Since 2001
- Insurance for Search and Rescue Volunteers
- Police and Public Confidence
- Provincial Investments in Corrections
- Supports for Victims of Crime and Domestic Violence
- Seniors
- Taxpayers
- Transportation
- Women
POST-SECONDARY FUNDING IN BRITISH COLUMBIA
May 29, 2009
Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development


Post Secondary Operating Budgets
- Funding to support post-secondary institutions has been increased by 53 per cent since 2001 to $1.9 billion in 2009/10. As a result, every single college and university in British Columbia has seen their provincial funding increasing.
- B.C.’s eleven universities will receive almost $1.3 billion in base operating grants this year.
Funding adjustments in 2009/10:
- Provincial funding has significantly increased access to post-secondary institutions throughout the province, increasing enrolment opportunities so that students with a B average in high school now have ready access to B.C. universities.
- Budget 2009 takes a renewed focus on available resources inside the post-secondary system and redirects funds previously approved for general seat growth to areas of high labour market demand – areas like health programs, skilled trades, graduate student spaces and Aboriginal access.
- Funding for general seat growth continues under budget 2009/10.
- In addition, there is:
- Funding for college pension plan increases.
- Funding for negotiating framework increases.
- Since 2001, this government has created 36,700 new student spaces across the province so students receive the best possible education – more choices, more access, closer to home.
Additional Provincial contributions to post-secondary institutions.
In addition to base funding, our government has undertaken the largest expansion of the post-secondary system in B.C. history – investing $1.8 billion in over 840 capital projects since 2001. Projects include new medical schools, new libraries, new laboratories and new classrooms. Public post secondary institutions are receiving added funds for facility maintenance, research, special projects and capital projects.
For example, in 2008/09:
- The University of British Columbia received an additional $64.6 million in special project and capital funding, including funds for expansion and Aboriginal programs and medical training.
- Simon Fraser University received $49.5 million in special project funding and capital funding commitments, including $46 million for the School of Contemporary Arts.
- Capilano University received more than $1.4 million in special project funding.
- The College of New Caledonia received $1.7 million in capital projects approved
- Royal Roads University received a commitment of $15 million towards a new academic building.

Letters to the Editor
Nov. 3, 2009
Letter to the Editor
MINISTER DEFENDS B.C.'S POST-SECONDARY RECORD
By Moira Stilwell
Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development
Submitted: Nelson Daily News
Status: Published, Nov. 5, 2009
I'd like to set the record straight on post-secondary education in British Columbia. B.C. continues to have one of the most affordable and accessible systems in the country, and we're committed to giving B.C. students the best possible education with more choices and more access closer to home. [Read More]
July 27, 2009
Letter to the Editor
INCREASED FUNDING TO VANCOUVER ISLAND UNIVERSITY
By Moira Stilwell
Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development
Submitted: Vancouver Sun, Victoria Times-Colonist
Status: Not published
B.C. continues to have one of the most generous financial aid programs in Canada and is committed to making public post-secondary education accessible, affordable and closer to home for B.C. students. [Read More]
February 11, 2009
Letter to the Editor
FUNDING INCREASES TO POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS
By Murray Coell
Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development
Submitted: Surrey North Delta Leader
Status: Published February 24, 2009
There are some who would like you to believe that the government has been cutting funding to public post-secondary institutions.
Here's what the people of British Columbia need to know.
Since 2001, our government increased the operating budgets 40 per cent to $1.8 billion – more than $68 million in 2008/09 alone. [Read More]
January 15, 2009
Letter to the Editor
VANCOUVER ISLAND UNIVERSITY FUNDING INCREASE
By Murray Coell
Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development
Submitted: Nanaimo Daily News
Status: Not published
I find it baffling the Daily News claims (Jan 14) VIU received a "funding cut" this year, when the university actually received an increase of $753,000. So let's set the record straight once and for all. We have increased VIU’s operating grant 30 per cent since 2001 for a total of $329 million. [Read More]
August 26, 2008
Letter to the Editor
WE SHOULD FEEL GOOD ABOUT UNIVERSITY FUNDING
By Murray Coell
Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development
Submitted: The Vancouver Sun
Status: Published August 26, 2008
It never fails to amaze me how some people can take perfectly good news and
turn it around, play fast and loose with facts and make it sound somehow negative. [Read More]
