Saudi student departure would cost Okanagan College $850,000

The president of Okanagan College said the school estimates that if its 65 new and returning students from Saudi Arabia don’t attend the school next year, its revenue will decrease by $850,000.

Because of an escalating foreign policy dispute between their country and Canada, Saudi students may leave Canadian schools en masse.

“At Okanagan College, we are nothing if not resilient and we will do whatever it takes to make up that revenue if that comes to pass,” college president Jim Hamilton said.

“This is still a developing agenda. We are not sure where this is going to end up.”

Such a move would also be disruptive for the students themselves.

The college said it hasn’t received any official word yet that Saudi students won’t be attending.

Watch Below: Global News coverage of Canada’s dispute with Saudi Arabia

2:04 Canada’s allies stay neutral during dispute with Saudi Arabia

• Canada’s allies stay neutral during dispute with Saudi Arabia
• Diplomatic feud intensifies between Canada and Saudi Arabia
• Air passenger rights advocate calls Saudi Arabia’s latest sanction on Canada ‘unacceptable’
• Canadian universities and colleges brace to handle sanctions from Saudi Arabia
• U.S. State Department urges Canada, Saudi Arabia to resolve dispute
• Spat? Dispute? What’s going on between Saudi Arabia and Canada?
• Canada’s diplomatic spat with Saudi Arabia over human rights
• Freeland says Canada comfortable with position, reaction by Saudi Arabia a question to ask Arab kingdom
• Freeland says questions on armoured vehicle deal are for Saudi Arabia
• Freeland says Canada waiting for answers on relationship with Saudi Arabia after ambassador expelled
• Saudi Arabia restricts Canada trade, recalls ambassador
• Why Saudi Arabia is expelling Canada’s ambassador
• Saudi Arabia expels Canada’s ambassador, freezes all trade with Ottawa
• Saudi Arabia suspends oil shipments through Red Sea after Yemen rebels attack tankers

Previous Video

Next Video

The University of British Columbia Okanagan wouldn’t make anyone available for an interview or disclose how many Saudi students are enrolled, but in a written statement the school said that it is “working to clarify the situation and determine how many current and incoming UBC students might be affected.”

Local Liberal MP Stephen Fuhr was at Okanagan College on Tuesday to tout his government’s investments in education.

However, despite the potential impact of his government’s foreign policy on local schools and students studying in Okanagan, Fuhr said he stands behind Canada’s foreign affairs minister.

“Saudi Arabia has had a pretty shady record on human rights for a long time and nobody’s really publicly called them on it. This is not my area; this is Minister Freeland’s. I think she has done a fantastic job at pointing out the obvious,” Fuhr said.