May 15 - Two Island universities being audited, facing deficits

Good morning !

Another beloved spring fair kicks off today in Langford. The historic Luxton Spring Fair will return with all of the thrilling rides and tasty carnival food attendees have enjoyed for decades. If you missed Esquimalt Buccaneer Days or the Mayfair Mall Spring Fair, make sure to check out this fun-filled event.

— Robyn

Today’s approx. read time: 6 minutes

🌡️ Weather Forecast

Today: 🌧️ 15 / 9

Tomorrow: 🌧️ 12 / 10

Day after: 🌦️ 13 / 10

NEWS

Two BC universities are being audited—and they’re both on the Island

Vancouver Island University (VIU) has run deficits for the last several years and has two firms going over its books, while the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education requested an external audit of Royal Roads University last fall.  

The ministry confirmed VIU had accepted its request to conduct an external financial review last March, and that Royal Roads had agreed to an external audit last fall.

The ministry responded to Capital Daily in time to comment on this story, however, human error on our end prevented us from including that response when this newsletter was originally published.

A ministry spokesperson told the Times Colonist that Colwood-based Royal Roads and Nanaimo-based VIU are the only universities of the province’s 25 public post-secondary schools to be asked to undergo the financial scrutiny.

Under BC’s Balanced Budget Act, universities in this province are not allowed to run deficits.

“The main estimates for a fiscal year must not contain a forecast of a deficit for that fiscal year,” the act reads.

Enrollment has been down at VIU since 2014-15, the school said in a 2023 statement in which it acknowledged a $20.2-million deficit for the ‘23-24 academic year. Enrollment continued to wane following the pandemic—when the province waived the balanced-book stipulation—while operating costs continued to rise. 

A statement from then-provost Mike Quinn said since the pandemic, “several universities in BC have been in the same position, with fewer students and higher costs, resulting in those institutions running deficit budgets as well.”

The university is trying to chop $18 million from its budget, which has been delayed from release until June 3. Usually, the university releases its budget in March. 

Emily Huner, the university’s acting president, told the TC the university has hired Deloitte to review its books, while PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has been auditing the university since April.

Last week, VIU announced potential cuts to several graduate and undergraduate programs—six programs may be suspended and 13 others scrapped altogether—in an attempt to reduce its expenditures. 

Results of the Royal Roads audit have not been made public, but the TC reports the Colwood-based school has been given the province’s approval to run a $1.2 million deficit for 2025-26 as it aims to balance its books by 2028.

Similar declining enrollment numbers—in both domestic and international students—along with rising operating costs have affected Royal Roads’ bottom line, Alex Kortum, the university’s vice-president, told the TC. 

NEWS

Local MP gets Island's first seat at federal government cabinet table in 10 years

New Esquimalt-Saanich-Sooke MP Stephanie McLean has been named secretary of state for seniors in the Mark Carney government. The Colwood-based lawyer is the first Islander to take on a designated government position since North Island Conservative John Duncan under PM Stephen Harper.

What is a secretary of state?

These 10 secretary positions are essentially junior ministers. They aren't in the actual 28-member cabinet, but lead a particular issue within a full minister's portfolio (such as sport, labour, and rural development). They also “may participate in Cabinet or Cabinet Committee meetings” when relevant to their specialization.

Seniors was previously a full ministry, but was one of four ministries the prime minister merged into the Ministry of Jobs and Families. 

Seniors role fitting for South Island

Nearly one-quarter of the Greater Victoria population was 65+ in the 2021 census, and locals’ average age is three years older than the nation’s. We were once one of Canada's oldest regions but that has been mitigated partly by the growth and youth of Langford. 

The Island also grapples with issues particularly relevant to seniors, such as health-care capacity and wait times. 

In April, McLean told Capital Daily that a Carney government would help seniors by lowering the minimum for making withdrawals from retirement savings, and by raising low-income seniors’ Guaranteed Income Supplement by 5%.

Rapid rise for McLean

McLean received the Liberal nomination only weeks before the election. Former View Royal mayor David Screech was removed as  a Liberal Party of Canada candidate due to allegations of stalking and harassment—which he calls “nonsense” and claims he had no opportunity to contest. 

Amid a broader Liberal wave, McLean easily won a longtime NDP riding expected to be a close race. She and Victoria MP Will Greaves became the Island's first Liberal MPs since 2013. 

McLean was previously an Alberta MLA and a minister in Rachel Notley's NDP government.

SPONSORED BY TEDXVICTORIA

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Tickets are on sale now for TEDxVictoria. Save your seat for June 10 at McPherson Playhouse to hear stories from inspiring speakers, enjoy live performances, and connect with community through interactive exhibitions. TEDxVictoria is bringing TED’s spirit of “ideas change everything” right here to Victoria.

Don’t wait–tickets are selling fast!

⭐️ Capital Picks

📸 Sunny day in 1956: See the Inner Harbour, including an ivy-covered Empress Hotel. [Facebook photo]

🎈 125th Victoria Day Parade is on Mon.

🗞️ In Other News

Langford and Port Alberni applying to host 2026 World Cup teams
Games will be played in major cities such as Seattle and Vancouver, but the 48 national soccer teams also need a home base for training. Langford is finalizing a bid to be a host, which if won would bring international attention and visitors. But it could also cost $1M+ to change Starlight Stadium's turf to real grass. [Sooke News Mirror]

Low-level helicopter flights over Capital Region over next month
LiDAR-equipped choppers will be doing FortisBC's annual inspections of natural gas lines from now until June 14. Flights will be mainly over the Westshore, Saanich, Esquimalt, Shawnigan Lake area, and the peninsula. [Info / map]

Metchosin's missing mini goats found after bear scare
Hounaida Bellasfar spent an hour on Tue., yelling at a black bear to drive it away from her goats and chickens. It retreated, but she soon discovered her 11 miniature goats had fled their pen. Within 24 hours, though, loud bleats led her to their refuge on a nearby hilltop. [Black Press]

No, that wasn’t the prime minister in a motorcade on Tue.
A five-car, multi-police motorcycle motorcade through city streets had some Victorians buzzing and speculating about who the VIP was, but it turns out it was just a practice. “The Integrated Escort Unit comprised of officers from Saanich PD, VicPD and RCMP, was conducting motorcycle escort training [on Tue.]” VicPD spokesperson Griffen Hohl tells Capital Daily. See it here.

Teen arrested after Victoria bus driver hit with bear spray
The BC Transit driver said two male teens were arguing with a female outside the bus at a stop near the legislature early Mon. evening, so he tried to intervene. That’s when the spray was deployed—outside the bus at the left corner where the driver’s window was partially open. The driver suffered only mild effects and didn’t require medical attention. A 15-year-old was arrested and released. It’s the second bear spraying incident in the last month and one of many aggressions drivers have been subjected to, even after plexiglass barriers were installed on most of the fleet’s buses five years ago. [Times Colonist]

🗓️ Things to do

🔶️ Moose Hide Campaign Day: The Indigenous-led campaign to end gender-based violence will begin its annual walk at Thunderbird Park today (12-1pm), with ceremonies and keynote speakers on the legislature grounds afterward. [Info / livestream]

🎸 Earth Freaks album release: The psych / punk / garage rock, with openers Poppa Don Gernie and Standard Issue Pleasure Model, will perform tonight at Capital Ballroom. 7pm-12am. [Tickets]

📚 Elaine Alec Book Signing: Celebrate the launch of Coming of Age at Munro's Books tonight. 6pm. [Info]

🩰 Victoria Academy of Ballet: Take Flight: A spring performance with students showcasing a dynamic program of ballet and contemporary works at McPherson Playhouse tonight. 6:30pm. [Info]

🎤 Heather Ferguson: Found: The local jazz vocalist takes the stage at Hermann’s to debut her latest album, joined by a stellar ensemble at Hermann’s tonight. 7pm. [Info]

🍻 Phillips Tasting Room Anniversary + Roast Kitchen Party: Celebrate the Tasting Room’s 7th anniversary and its new collab with Roast, with live DJs, birthday cake, specialty cocktails, and a full menu of sandwiches and snacks at Phillips Tasting Room tomorrow. 4-10pm. [Info]

🎡 Luxton Spring Fair in Langford: Enjoy thrilling rides, games, live entertainment, and delicious fair food at the annual Luxton Spring Fair—perfect for families and fair lovers of all ages. Now to Sun. 12-6pm. [Info] 

🥳 Block Party: Celebrate Turnabout’s 6th birthday and the grand opening of the Ottavio patio. Free mini gelato scoops, samples, bites, live DJ, prizes. Sat. 11am-3pm. [Info]

🍷 Averill Creek Open House: Visit the vineyard in Duncan for their spring open house—with $2 wine tastings, lunch from Bicycle Pizza and Cold Comfort, and a pop-up from Westholme Nursery—at Averill Creek. Sat. 11am-5pm. [Info]

🍅 Goldstream Farmers Market in Langford, with music from the Chick Wagon Band. Veterans Memorial Park. Sat. 10am-2pm. [Info]

👀 In Case You Missed It

Wednesday’s headlines: SD61 teacher faces 5 charges related to youth sex crime; Two people-helpers honoured for their work; Clipper cuts some Vic-Seattle sailings. [May 14] 

Stars and Stripes will continue to fly in Sidney, council decrees. [Black Press] 

Metchosin Rd. traffic delays and bus stop change for construction next week. 

Nanaimo bungee jumper falls out of harness, drops 10 feet into water. [Times Colonist]

Hank’s Restaurant sold, Nowhere *A Restaurant to close. [CHEK]

Busy beavers: Two beavers get an early-morning start on building their dam in an Island marsh. [Facebook photos]