Official Statement: 2026-2027 Provincial Budget & Federal Visa Policies

Yesterday the Government of Saskatchewan released its 2026-2027 provincial budget, which includes changes to funding for post-secondary institutions in the province. URSA recognizes and appreciates both the three percent increase in financial support for University operations and the tightening of limits on annual tuition hikes.

As a Students' Association dedicated to promoting the interests of University of Regina students, ensuring their voices are heard, and helping them succeed amidst what for most is financial strain, we appreciate any and all additional budgetary supports provided to the University of Regina, and will continue to advocate for additional support from the province. In an era of sustained financial strain for the average student, these provincial measures provide a necessary, though modest, buffer against rising costs. We will continue to advocate for even more robust provincial support to ensure the University of Regina remains a leader in innovation and accessible education.

The Impact of Federal Visa Policies

Unfortunately, the increase in funding announced yesterday by the province will not compensate for the profound economic blow the UofR, and virtually all other Saskatchewan and Canadian post-secondary institutions, have been dealt by harmful federal policies targeting international students.

While we recognize that it is not the provincial government's explicit obligation to compensate for funding gaps created by poor federal visa policy, more support is always appreciated and would be greatly helpful in protecting affordability for Saskatchewan students (keeping tuition down) and helping thwart cuts to programs, ensuring Saskatchewan institutions can afford to continue leading on innovation.

A Call to the Federal Government

We strongly urge the federal government to expeditiously reconsider the limitations it has imposed on international student visas (and consequently, enrolment). Facilitating access for international students to Canadian institutions of higher education like the University of Regina is not only economically expedient in supporting affordability and programming for all Canadian students, but it is also an enriching way to build and strengthen people-to-people ties with Canada's new and emerging global partners.

This has been among the repeatedly stated objectives of Prime Minister Carney's foreign policy, and we would therefore urge him and his administration to consider revisiting the issue and, thus, make promoting Canadian higher education a priority on the world stage.

For URSA, protecting international student access to an academic journey at the UofR isn't just about global diplomacy; it's about ensuring the University of Regina remains an affordable, diverse, and thriving institution for every student who calls Saskatchewan home. We will continue to make this case with determination, at all levels of government.