View Thread

Update on attacks to universities in Ontario, Canada

  • 1.  Update on attacks to universities in Ontario, Canada

    Posted 04-12-2021 23:34
    Dear ONE colleagues,

    I thought you would like to know about a terrible development occurring in Ontario, Canada. Premiere Doug Ford has been attacking academia/universities and the latest assault is on Laurentian University. Laurentian University serves unique populations in Ontario's north. Of course, among many programs, Environmental Studies is cut. Mining, etc. takes place in Northern Ontario, so Environmental Studies is obviously important.

    Here are some links:
    Staff, students 'stressed and uncertain' as Laurentian University job terminations set for today
    https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/laurentian-negotiations-insolvency-terminations-restructuring-1.5982114

    Solidarity letters from faculty associations (inlcluding a letter jointly signed by the RFA)
    https://northernsolidarity.ca/en/articles/solidarity-letters/

    University of Western Ontario press release
    https://www.uwofa.ca/article/uwofa-urges-government-end-restructuring-process-laurentian-university

    Northern Solidarity website, recognising critical role of Ontario universities and providing information on activities of support
    https://northernsolidarity.ca/en/take-action/

    The government's actions are resulting in drastic cuts to programs and faculty layoffs. 

    Overall, Ontario universities have been markedly underfunded for a long time. We have been experiencing a hollowing out of our university system and now, this government is speeding it up. This is also an attack on tenure and science by this populist and fossil fuel supporting, climate change denying government.

    I hope everyone will stand united in support of faculty at Laurentian University and in support of science, academia, and universities in general.

    All the best,

    Deborah E. de Lange, BASc (Electrical Engineering), CPA, CMA, MBA, PhD
    Associate Professor, Global Management Studies, Environmental Applied Science and Management
    Affiliate Researcher, Centre for Research in Sustainable Supply Chain Analytics, Rowe School of Business, Dalhousie University https://www.dal.ca/faculty/management/crssca.html
    Visiting Scholar, Massey College, University of Toronto (2019-2020)
    Ted Rogers School of Management, TRS 1-036
    Ryerson University
    55 Dundas St. West
    Toronto, Ontario
    M5G 2C5
    Tel. (416) 979-5000 x 557504

    Follow us on Twitter @TRSM