I write to correct a possible misperception created by the April Bulletin article “‘Smoke & mirrors’ obscure Nova Scotia’s budget.”

The notion that the Council of Nova Scotia University Presidents agreed to “a three per cent cut this year … in a memo of understanding negotiated between the government and administrators” is far from correct.

There was no negotiation between Nova Scotia’s universities and the provincial government concerning a funding cut. The cut was imposed by the government. In short, there was neither negotiation nor an MOU concerning funding cuts to university budgets.

For the record, the Nova Scotia government has reduced its funding of the province’s universities by nearly $100 million over the past three years, when one includes the absorption of annual inflationary costs.

Peter Halpin
Executive Director
Council of Nova Scotia
University Presidents

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The article said, “Institutions will see a three per cent cut this year, following on three and four per cent cuts in the last two, as outlined in a memo of understanding negotiated between the government and administrators.” The government and university administrators did sign a MOU on Jan. 5, 2012, where the province imposed the funding cut, but allowed tuition to increase by three per cent per year and agreed to pump $25 million into a “University Excellence and Innovation program.” This was the MOU signed by the minister and the Council of Nova Scotia University Presidents, and the operating grant cut to universities is outlined in the MOU as we reported. — ed.

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