Budget 2024 is Unambitious on BC Post-Secondary Student Issues – the Absence of Access Grant Expansion, Operating Grant Funding Formula Review, Sexualized and Gender-Based Violence Prevention Strategy on Campuses
For Immediate Release
February 23, 2024. Victoria, BC – Budget 2024 is not as ambitious as students expected it to be, with no mentions of the expansion of student affordability programs, food security initiatives that post-secondary students can benefit from, commitment to the Skytrain to UBC and the creation of a post-secondary institution-specific sexualized and gender-based violence prevention strategy. There were some wins that students will benefit from in Budget 2024, such as the funding of student housing and facilities on campus, the government’s commitment towards Broadway Skytrain extension to Arbutus St., but the lack of funding for initiatives that prioritize post-secondary student affordability is deeply concerning.
Post-secondary students are a vital part of the province and must be able to afford education, groceries, housing, accessible public transportation, and feel safe on their campuses.
Transit
Within the $15.5 billion invested in transportation infrastructure, $454 million this fiscal year will be going towards the Broadway Subway extension to Arbutus, which is set to be completed by 2026. However, we are concerned with the lack of acknowledgement and financial support for the UBC Skytrain extension, especially with the expected completion of the business case proposal by the end of 2024. The growing momentum behind the movement to return the 480 bus is also unrecognized by the provincial government as UBC students residing in Richmond, Surrey, and Delta continue to raise concerns with the inaccessible and unreliable transportation routes they are currently dealing with to get to campus.
Tax Credits
A new income-tested tax credit of up to $400 per year for renters will be awarded starting in the 2023 calendar year. This is a band-aid measure that will help assist students with housing affordability in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis. We are concerned that this is not enough, especially for students looking to live close to campus or rapid transit hubs, where rental prices remain extremely unaffordable. We call upon further measures that will help post-secondary students afford housing amidst the hard-hitting housing crisis felt by British Columbians, such as a non-repayable grant to post-secondary students currently living in rental housing based on financial needs.
Affordable Education
Despite extensive consultations and numerous recommendations by student unions through the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Governance, the budget fails to address critical concerns regarding student affordability and support. The absence of concrete plans to alleviate post-secondary students’ unique financial struggles is deeply concerning. Of particular concern is the need for measures to expand the BC Access Grant, broaden eligibility for student loans, and review the operating grant funding formula. Expanding the BC Access Grant by increasing the maximum grant amount given out per year and the grant cut-off threshold to combat the increased cost of living is crucial. Investing in students’ financial well-being is an investment in the future of British Columbia. These are essential steps towards ensuring equitable access to education for all, regardless of socio-economic background, which students expected in Budget 2024. Also, despite the clear and pressing need for a comprehensive review of post-secondary education funding, the budget fails to acknowledge this critical issue. The AMS emphasizes that a thorough review of operational grants is essential to prevent universities from resorting to drastic measures such as increasing international and domestic tuition fees to cover costs.
Sexualized and Gender-Based Violence Prevention Strategy for Post-Secondary Students
Despite the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address sexualized and gender-based violence on campus and create safer environments for students, the budget fails to allocate specific funding for this critical issue. The AMS emphasizes the importance of implementing a robust Sexualized and Gender-Based Violence Prevention Strategy for Post-Secondary Students to combat this pervasive issue. Sexualized and gender-based violence is a serious threat to the safety and well-being of students, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities and exacerbating existing inequalities. Without targeted funding and strategic interventions, students remain vulnerable to harassment, assault, and discrimination on campus.
Food Security for Students
The AMS expresses profound disappointment and concern over the government’s failure to aid on-campus food banks amidst rising grocery costs, directly impacting students and their families. With projections indicating a significant rise in expenses for families, including a projected increase of $1065.60 for a family of four and a staggering 7% increase in grocery prices, the need for support for vulnerable populations, including students, has never been more critical. Despite the alarming statistics revealing an 84% increase in user interactions at the AMS food bank during the same period in 2022/23, observing 12,463 students who depended on the food bank from May to November 2023, the government has neglected to allocate any aid to on-campus food banks. This failure to act directly impacts students who rely on these essential services to meet their basic needs.
If you have questions about our provincial lobbying priorities and the 2024 BC Budget, please email VP External Joshua Kim at vpexternal@ams.ubc.ca or AVP External Erin and Bandhul at avpexternal@ams.ubc.ca.
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