SASKATOON - Minister of Advanced Education Ken Cheveldayoff is making it known he believes the international cap is behind the layoffs seen as SaskPolytechic.
Word came this week that Sask Polytehnic has laid off 14 out of scope employees due to a reduction in students. At a media availability on Friday in Clavet, Cheveldayoff indicated he was concerned about the situation.
“First of all, nobody likes to see layoffs,” Cheveldayoff told reporters. “We have a situation that the federal government has put a cap on international students.
There was some abuse in the system and it was mostly in Ontario and British Columbia. But they put in a cap that affected all of Canada and Saskatchewan included. “
Cheveldayoff noted that there are layoffs that come at this time of year every year. “In a couple of months, they come back with more jobs being created and secured.”
But Cheveldayoff indicated he wanted to see changes to the international cap.
“We are concerned. I'm lobbying with my counterparts. This is affecting every province in Canada. In the middle of June, I was at the CMEC (Council of Ministers of Education, Canada) minister's conference in Toronto, working with my colleagues to lobby the federal government to look at that international cap to allow as many students as possible to come into Saskatchewan. We have a very good relationship with international students in SaskPoly, the U of S, the U of R, SAIT, our regional colleges and everything like that.”
Cheveldayoff also responded to comments from the opposition NDP the previous day, claiming Sask Party cuts to advanced education are the real reason behind for the layoffs.
“As far as the NDP comments, that's pretty rich coming from the NDP,” Cheveldayoff said.
“They didn't even cost post-secondary education into their platform last year during the election. There was no increase provided. They're always talking about cuts. There's no cuts in post-secondary education. We have a multi-year funding agreement that we extended. Our institutions are amongst the best funded in the country. We continue to do that.
“I know the NDP's job is to criticize, but it's also to propose better ideas. We're always listening. We're not saying that we're perfect, but the post-secondary education is thriving. They're following our growth plan. That's why you see it going well. I know the NDP are just trying to do their job.”
With files from Jon Perez
