REGINA, Sask. — Concerns were raised this week at the legislature about rising student housing costs.
Tajinder Grewal, the Opposition's advanced education critic, raised the issue during question period Tuesday. He was joined at the legislature by Logan Weatherald, a history student at the University of Saskatchewan, who said his student housing costs went up by $800 over three years.
He told reporters he paid $8,767 in 2024 for his portion of a four-bedroom rental unit shared with three other students, each with an individual bedroom. In 2025, his rent went up to $9,110, and in 2026, it increased again to $9,570.
Weatherald said the rent increases were directly affecting students.
“This is money that can be going towards gas or groceries or a variety of other expenses. And I think students are seeing these costs rising alongside their tuition costs, and it's really affecting their ability to just be students. And so they're having to make the choice to either not go to these great institutions that we have in Saskatchewan here, or take up jobs while they're doing full-time school, or make a variety of other difficult decisions.”
“Our students are struggling, financially struggling, due to high cost of tuition, housing, and groceries,” said Grewal, who added “there is a cost of living crisis, there is (an) affordability crisis, and this government is not listening.”
Weatherald said he lives directly on campus from September to April and walks to class every day.
“I can honestly say that I don't do much driving. The cost of gas is a very large expense for students across the board. And frankly, I'm very grateful to have my parents' support in getting a post-secondary education. But I know for many students, it's a case of if they don't have that support, they're taking on these jobs alongside five classes, and extracurriculars and that sort of stuff.
“And frankly, with all of that, it's difficult to maintain academic excellence or just be a very good student. And if something starts to slip, whether it's grades that are suffering or anything else, it's just very difficult.”
Grewal blamed underfunding of post-secondary education for the cost increases. He said the operating grant per student has declined from more than $21,000 in 2016-17 to less than $11,000 now.
He also said the government used to fund almost 60 per cent of university operating budgets, but that figure is now less than 50 per cent.
To make up the gap, Grewal said, universities are turning to fundraising, attracting more international students or raising housing costs.
Minister Cheveldayoff responds
Asked by reporters about funding levels under previous governments, Cheveldayoff noted that when the NDP was in government, “tuition went up by 228 per cent in their 16 years.”
A reporter challenged Cheveldayoff, saying those “points were kind of moot” and that the government's current actions were “dominoing down to this young gentleman here.”
“Well, I'll talk to you about what we're doing,” Cheveldayoff responded.
“We've had the largest increase for post-secondary education in the country, bar none. We've had a multi-year program that we announced last year that sees a three per cent increase each year for four years. And it limits tuition from zero to three per cent.”
Cheveldayoff also acknowledged that “affordability is a concern. It's a concern for all of us.”
“But rent in Saskatchewan is amongst the lowest in the country. Saskatoon is amongst the lowest. Regina is the lowest in the country when it comes to rent. When utilities, we look at the second lowest utility bundle. But we understand that there's concerns, and it's difficult for students to juggle. And some do have to take jobs, and we understand that.”
Cheveldayoff also pointed to the “most aggressive student loan program in the country as well. $119 million, I believe, last year to ensure that students are able to get the loans that they need.”
Cheveldayoff said he had agreed to meet with Weatherald to hear his concerns directly and “certainly take it up with the institutions.”
“As you know, institutions operate at arm's length from the government. But our institutions are amongst the most well-funded. And a zero to three per cent tuition increase commitment is something that we think is responsible and the right thing to do.”
