The Government of Saskatchewan is providing a one-time top-up of $12 million in operating funding for post-secondary education institutions in the 2024-25 budget, representing a 2.2 per cent increase over last year.
"Post-secondary education supports all sectors of the provincial economy and is key to helping meet our Growth Plan and Health Human Resources Action Plangoals," Advanced Education Minister Gordon Wyant said. "This one-time increase serves to assist institutions manage cost pressures, better enabling them to maintain services for students, expand seats and introduce new quality programs, and ensure they remain responsive to labour market needs."
The additional funding is being provided through an amendment to the current multi-year funding agreement between government and post-secondary education institutions. The four-year timeframe has provided greater funding certainty, paving the way for institutions to improve long-term financial sustainability, support growth and ensure students are well-supported. The 2024-25 budget represents the fourth and final year of the current agreement, which was the first of its kind in the post-secondary sector.
This year's $12 million multi-year funding top-up is a key element of the 2024-25 Advanced Education budget, which features total investments of $793 million, an overall increase of $28.2 million (or 3.7 per cent). Institutions will receive approximately $724 million in operating and capital grants this year, including funding to support training seat expansions and capital projects aligned with meeting critical labour market needs in our health care sector.
Post-secondary sector partners continue to be supportive of the multi-year funding model. The Ministry of Advanced Education will continue engaging in discussions with institutions on the next new multi-year funding agreement, with a proposed agreement expected to be submitted through the 2025-26 budget development process.
"We are pleased the province is providing a one-time increase to the University of Regina's annual operating grant," University of Regina President and Vice-Chancellor Jeff Keshen said. "Our costs have continued to rise, so we very much appreciate that the additional $2.4 million in this year's budget will help offset the inflationary pressures we are facing and allow us to reinvest in areas that will support students."
"We appreciate the one-time inflationary increase for our university," University of Saskatchewan President and Vice-Chancellor Peter Stoicheff said. "It is a recognition of the financial pressures our sector continues to face, will help the University of Saskatchewan continue to achieve excellence in our teaching, learning and research mission, and will contribute to a stronger Saskatchewan."
"Saskatchewan Polytechnic appreciates the government's clear commitment to post-secondary education in our province," Sask Polytech President and CEO Dr. Larry Rosia said. "This year's provincial budget delivers financial stability, propels growth, and responds to the challenges of escalating costs with a one-time 2.2 per cent funding increase. Sask Polytech will continue to deliver programs and courses which help grow Saskatchewan's economy and provide job-ready graduates."
"When the multi-year funding agreement was established in 2021-22, it was difficult to predict the pressures that inflation levels would cause in the latter years of the agreement," Great Plains College President and chair of CEO Council Brad Mahon said. "We appreciate the government's acknowledgment and response to these pressures by providing a one-time increase in operating funding."
In addition to operating funding, this year the ministry is also providing $58.9 million for capital projects and preventative maintenance and renewal throughout the sector. A significant portion of the funding will support the continued expansion of health training programs as well as a number of other key investments, such as:
- $8.7 million for an electrical infrastructure upgrade at the University of Saskatchewan;
- $6.0 million for planning work for Saskatchewan Polytechnic's new Saskatoon campus;
- $6.3 million for cooling tower replacement at the University of Regina; and
- $610,000 to expand the student health care centre at the University of Regina.
