Vancouver Community College (VCC) has announced the cancellation of its fall intake for first-year nursing students, attributing the decision to 'funding limitations.' This move occurs against the backdrop of a severe nursing shortage in British Columbia, where there are currently 4,500 vacant nursing positions, and the BC Nurses’ Union predicts the province will need an additional 26,000 nurses by 2031. Adriane Gear, President of the BC Nurses’ Union, expressed deep concern over the cancellation, highlighting the short-sightedness of reducing nursing seats when the healthcare system is already under strain. The situation has been exacerbated by federal policy changes that have reduced the number of international students by 72% over the last two years, significantly impacting the funding of post-secondary institutions. Jessie Sunner, Minister of Post-Secondary Education, noted that many colleges across Canada are struggling financially due to the lack of international student tuition, which is typically higher than that of domestic students. This has led to program cuts and staff layoffs, raising alarms about the future of healthcare education in the province.