BC Greens commit to domestic tuition freeze if elected
Andrew Appleton, the BC Greens candidate in Oak Bay-Gordon Head, announced on October 21 that a BC Greens government would freeze domestic tuition and mandatory fees and replace the current post-secondary funding model.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on dailyhive.com.
The BC Greens announced on October 21 that they would freeze domestic tuition and mandatory fees if elected, capping annual increases at inflation. BC Greens candidate Andrew Appleton, who is running in Oak Bay-Gordon Head, made the announcement, according to Daily Hive.
The party said it would also replace the current post-secondary funding model after a system-wide review, with "new provincial funding on the table," Daily Hive reported. The BC Greens said they would expand non-market student housing on public campus land, using provincial capital funding to build more below-market homes, including family-sized units for students with children.
What the party says about the funding gap
The BC Greens cited a shift in how post-secondary institutions have covered their costs. According to the party, international tuition made up around 18 per cent of revenue across the public post-secondary system until 2024, and the figure was as high as 40 per cent for some institutions. Both numbers are the party's own figures.
The BC Greens also said that federal changes to study permits are expected to cut sector-wide tuition revenue by $300 million annually, leading to hiring freezes, layoffs, and program cuts. That figure is the party's own estimate, and Daily Hive reported it on October 21.
"Post-secondary institutions have relied on squeezing international and domestic students like a cash cow to fill funding gaps for too long," Appleton said, according to Daily Hive. He added that the government "hasn't taken its responsibility to fund education seriously."
The housing piece
On top of the tuition freeze, the Greens said they would build more non-market student housing on publicly owned campus land. New publicly funded student housing would be required to stay affordable, the party said.
The announcement came three days before voting day on October 24. Voting day is the last chance to vote in the BC provincial election. If you have not yet voted in the advance period, which ended October 21, you can vote on October 24 at your assigned voting place. Find your location at Elections BC's website or on the BC provincial election page.
Questions this story answers
What did the BC Greens promise about tuition on October 21?
The BC Greens said they would freeze domestic tuition and mandatory fees if elected, and cap any annual increases at the rate of inflation. BC Greens candidate Andrew Appleton, who is running in Oak Bay-Gordon Head, made the announcement on October 21, 2026, three days before voting day. Daily Hive reported the announcement.
Who is Andrew Appleton?
Andrew Appleton is the BC Greens candidate in the Oak Bay-Gordon Head district. He announced the party's post-secondary education policy on October 21, 2026. You can read more on his candidate page at voche.me.
What would the BC Greens do about the post-secondary funding model?
The BC Greens said they would replace the current post-secondary funding model after a system-wide review, with new provincial funding as part of that replacement. The party did not name a funding amount or a timeline for the review. The claim comes from Daily Hive's report on October 21, 2026.
What does the tuition freeze cover?
According to Daily Hive's report on October 21, the BC Greens policy would cover domestic tuition and mandatory fees. Annual increases would be capped at the rate of inflation. The policy does not apply to international student tuition, which is a separate fee category at BC institutions.
What did the BC Greens say about international tuition?
The BC Greens said that until 2024, international tuition accounted for around 18 per cent of revenue across the public post-secondary system, and could be as high as 40 per cent for some institutions. These are the party's own figures. The party also said that federal changes to study permits are expected to reduce sector-wide tuition revenue by $300 million annually, which is the party's own estimate. Daily Hive reported these numbers on October 21.
What did the BC Greens promise about student housing?
The BC Greens said they would expand non-market student housing on public campus land, using provincial capital funding to build more below-market homes, including units for students with children. They would also require new publicly funded student housing to stay affordable over time. Daily Hive reported these commitments on October 21, 2026.
When is voting day in the BC provincial election?
Voting day in the British Columbia general election is Saturday, October 24, 2026. Advance voting runs from October 16 to 21. You can find your voting place at the Elections BC website or on the voche.me BC provincial election page.
Where can voters learn more about all the parties' education platforms?
Voters can compare what each party has said about education and other issues by visiting the BC provincial election section at voche.me. Voting day is October 24, 2026. The BC Greens candidate page for Andrew Appleton is at /bc/provincial-2026/candidates/andrew-appleton.
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