Discussions

Brandon University was in financial trouble long before the NDP took over its support. See story below.  
Because of inadequate monetary support, Brandon College must cease to function. So decided Baptist Union delegates in Edmonton when they realised the impossibility of placing the prairie educational centre on a solid financial basis. During the past several terms the College Board had raised some $50,000 annually in order that maintenance deficits might be met. Only a small portion of a required $750,000 was secured the year before. To Dr. J. R. C. Evans, institution president since 1929, the need for such an establishment was vital.  
District representatives laid the problem before Manitoba educational authorities. Proposed were government, corporation an private contributions which, with pledges of two anonymous eastern donors over a five year period, would allow a Baptist endowment fund to be built up: local district groups discussed methods of rescuing the agency whose loss “would be a blow to our prestige.” But a suggested vote regarding a permanent municipal college allocation brought sharp aldermanic division: more important (avowed some brethren) was an electorate opinion about continued operation of a Street Railway system now losing $1,200 every month. A council majority finally agreed that both matters should be submitted to ratepayers on Jun 2nd. 1931.  
College directorate members, “recognizing that it had long been a non-sectarian school,” resolved to reorganize the medium “if the community or any other aggregation would undertake the financing” but should the by-law be defeated, the present administrators “will have the responsibility of closing the school… a difficult and depressing task.” A citizens campaign committee announcement read: “the issue is clear … if the vote does not carry, Brandon College will not open this fall.” Mayor Cater, through public prints, opposed the measure, which “means an obligation to the city.”  
The plebiscite was squelched. Yet, the following week, aroused inhabitants launched a “Save-Brandon-College” appeal. A fortnight later, with almost 90% of a $20,000 objective attained, authorities made plans for reopening the instruction branch to which many former students—lacking summer employment opportunities—would return no more…  
Source. Brandon: A City by G. Barker.