UBC ams

Federal Budget Delivers a Big Win for Students, But Misses the Mark in Other Key Areas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 5, 2025. Vancouver, BC – The Alma Mater Society (AMS) of UBC welcomes the inclusion of $40 million for the Youth Climate Corps (YCC) in the 2025 federal budget, marking a significant milestone for youth-led climate advocacy and help to create tens of thousands of climate-related jobs for students. This funding follows years of persistent campaigning by climate organizers and the AMS, including efforts during the 2025 federal election and the BC3 Open Letter calling for a Youth Climate Corps in the federal budget.

“I am excited to see $40 million for the Youth Climate Corps in the budget,” said Solomon Yi-Kieran, AMS VP External Affairs. “This is a huge win for young people, jobs, and the climate. At the same time, we will continue to push to ensure the program has the full funding it needs to be successful.”

While the AMS celebrates this funding, the current allocation for the YCC falls short of the $1 billion climate activists have been advocating for, and the $300 million the AMS has pushed for.

Beyond the YCC funding, there are concerns about the budget for post-secondary students.

  • Public Service Cuts: The federal government’s plan to reduce the number of public servants by 40,000 positions by 2029 comes at a time when youth unemployment is at an all-time high. Post-secondary students rely on the public sector for jobs and services. These cuts will reduce the number of jobs available and risk slowing down the delivery of essential services that Canadians—especially students—depend on.
  • International Student Reductions: The decision to halve international student admissions over the next three years threatens the financial stability of post-secondary institutions and student unions across the country. This strain will undermine the quality of education, reduce post-secondary institutions’ capacity to offer a full catalogue of courses, and reduce access to student services such as accessibility, accommodations, sexual assault support, and student financial support programs. International students enrich learning by bringing their cultural and experiential perspectives to their classes and add to the diversity and richness of the campus life. International students also contribute to their local economies.
  • Transit Funding Shortfalls: The reallocation of funds from the Canada Public Transit Fund to the Build Communities Strong Fund, we feel is shortsighted. The $3 billion annual commitment is insufficient to support transformative projects like the UBC SkyTrain extension, which students and communities urgently need.
  • Environmental Funding Cuts: The proposed $1.3 billion reduction in Environment and Climate Change Canada’s budget contradicts the government’s stated commitment to climate action and risks undermining progress on sustainability goals. In the context of a worsening climate crisis, this puts young people and students’ futures at risk.
  • Military Spending Prioritized Over Social Investment: The budget’s pledge of $81.8 billion over five years to “rebuild, rearm, and reinvest” in the military raises questions about the government’s commitment to youth. While we recognize the need to reinvest in the military, redirecting a portion of that amount toward student needs will have long-term benefits for the country that would out-weigh the short-term military spend.

“While we’re happy to see the YCC prioritized, we understand that this advocacy win is in the context of an austerity budget,” added Yi-Kieran. “Cutting jobs in the public service, cutting international students, and providing insufficient transit funding, all while increasing military expenditures, is not the way to build a stronger Canadian economy. We want to see government prioritize the services and funding that Canadians, especially students, rely on.”

The AMS calls on the federal government to reconsider its priorities and invest in the next generation of leaders through robust support for education, climate action, and public services.

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Eric Lowe
Sr. Communications and Marketing Manager
AMS of UBC
ericlowe@ams.ubc.ca

Back to news