N.S. could require universities facing money woes to submit 'revitalization plan'

The Nova Scotia government is proposing big changes to the way universities are run, including withholding funding from certain institutions until they create an acceptable "revitalization plan."

Brendan Maguire, the minister of advanced education, said Wednesday that he values the province's universities, but legislative changes are needed to ensure the post-secondary institutions are sustainable and "meeting the job market."

Speaking to reporters at a bill briefing, Maguire said he would work with the universities.

"I'm not going to be coming in with a heavy hand and be like, 'You need to do this,'" he said.

Among the amendments introduced Wednesday, the minister will have the power to force a university he deems is in financial trouble to draft a plan for a path forward and submit it to the province for approval. 

Maguire refused to say how he would determine that or at what point he would step in.

The plan would assess the university's "strengths and weaknesses" and include a "long-term strategy for financial sustainability" while laying out its "goals and objectives for contributing to social and economic development and growth in the province."

Provincial funding could be withheld until the government is satisfied the university has presented an achievable plan. Universities in the province receive $380 million a year in operational funding, plus $43 million for specific programming.

Although the concept of a revitalization plan isn't new, department officials said no university has ever created one on its own.

Council not warned of changes

The 10 degree-granting institutions in the province were neither consulted nor warned the changes were coming, according to the group that represents university presidents.

Peter Halpin of the Council of Nova Scotia University Presidents said the group met a month ago with Maguire, but the changes introduced Wednesday were never mentioned.

Halpin said the university presidents will need time to "digest" the proposed law before commenting on its possible implications.

Other amendments introduced Wednesday include revamping university boards of governors, but Maguire said he has no desire to replace existing board members.

"The people on these boards have done an incredible job," he said. "We're not looking to replace or fire people."

Degrees from NSCC?

The bill also allows for the minister to extend the granting of undergraduate degrees to the province's community college system.

Right now, the 14 campuses of the Nova Scotia Community College issue diplomas or certificates.

NSCC president Don Bureaux said in a government news release that the college welcomes the change.

"Adding degrees to NSCC's range of credentials will allow us to increase the options within our programming, opening doors to more students and enabling them to support critical in-demand careers right here, at home," he said in the statement.