PRINCE ALBERT, Sask. — Efforts are underway to potentially bring a new university to northern Saskatchewan.
At a media event in Prince Albert, federal Secretary of State for Rural Development Buckley Belanger announced the formation of an exploratory process to examine establishing a new Northern Saskatchewan University.
It was announced the process will be initiated through Belanger’s office as a member of Parliament, in co-ordination with Geordy McCaffrey, who has experience working with the Gabriel Dumont Institute, the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina.
The plan is to assemble a team representing northern leaders, industry and other stakeholders to advise and guide the effort, with the exploratory process set to begin in early fall.
It is expected a final report detailing “options, strategies, and required steps towards establishing a Northern Saskatchewan University” will be delivered by the end of the year, according to a statement from Belanger’s office.
“Local university training in the North is a critical piece of required infrastructure,” said Belanger in a statement.
“The current ad hoc approach can be improved. Too often, northern students must leave their communities and take on an array of added costs and challenges relocating in the South to pursue a university degree. Finding a local solution will be key in this work.”
Belanger also said history has shown that young people trained in the North are more likely to stay and work there.
“Ultimately, that has to be our objective: creating opportunities that keep our people, our talent, and our investment here, to build a stronger, more self-sufficient Northern Saskatchewan.”
Belanger’s office is acknowledging in a release that any path toward a Northern Saskatchewan University would need close collaboration with the Government of Saskatchewan and with northern and Indigenous leadership, existing post-secondary institutions, industry and other partners.
The office states the exploratory process is intended to “bring those voices together, examine what is possible, and identify a practical path forward.”
In a statement, the Opposition New Democrats said they welcomed the announcement of an exploratory process for a Northern Saskatchewan University.
"We believe northern Saskatchewan deserves accessible pathways to post-secondary education, and we want to ensure northern voices are heard and considered," said Tajinder Grewal, critic for advanced education.
Grewal said the NDP caucus has "long supported expanded access to higher education in the North" and also remained "deeply opposed to the Sask. Party's cuts to the Northern Teacher Education Program in 2017. At a time when Saskatchewan has the second-highest tuition rates in Canada, the provincial government must step up to adequately fund post-secondary institutions."
"Students living in northern Saskatchewan should not be forced to leave their communities to get the education they are seeking. Our team will work with all levels of government to ensure quality education is available in all corners of the province."
