The Ontario Universities and Colleges Coalition (OUCC), representing over 435,000 faculty, staff, and students from across the public postsecondary education sector in Ontario, strongly opposes the new provincial election spending rules that are outlined and enforced by Bill 307, Protecting Elections and Defending Democracy Act, 2021. With the use of the Notwithstanding Clause, the government has imposed Bill 307 despite a court decision declaring the law unconstitutional based on the harm that this kind of legislation would cause.

The next provincial election is scheduled for the summer of 2022 and this is a pivotal moment for Ontario politics. Ontarians have struggled and sacrificed through this pandemic, owners of big businesses have become more wealthy, and this government has overseen the demise of Ontario’s vital public institutions. The next provincial election will be key for those in the post-secondary education sector. Our communities need tangible action and investment from the provincial government to overcome the serious challenges facing Ontario’s chronically underfunded post-secondary education system.

Robust campaigns run by independent democratic organizations are vital to our electoral system. They educate the public about important public policy issues that directly affect their lives and show the public how they can engage in the electoral process and make a difference.

Far too often, information around post-secondary education issues are lost during large election campaigns broadly focused on winning votes, not necessarily addressing the challenges facing our public post-secondary education system. The imposition of Bill 307 does not remedy this issue. Rather, it hinders the ability of students’ unions, labour unions, and other independent democratic organizations to educate their members and the public on the nature of provincial elections, democracy, and the importance of their participation. It is also vitally important for under-represented groups so that they can leverage the pooled resources of their unions and associations to engage in broader conversations in advance of and during elections.

Ontario students and youth are a major demographic of voters and yet they are the age group least likely to cast a ballot. Students’ unions play an important role in educating their members (some of whom are first time voters) as well as informing the public about issues such as tuition fees, mental health, healthcare access for International students, and funding changes within the sector.

The restrictions outlined in Bill 307 have placed additional limitations on “third party organizations”—undermining collaboration between students and workers on campus and community coalitions.

Democratic student, worker, and community groups organize important elections-based events, including on-campus all-candidate debates, community meet-and-greets with candidates, and information sessions on the issues and how to vote. The creation of these events involves joint outreach and shared expenses. This type of collaboration is vital for local, membership-based organizations hosting election events that highlight local issues—especially for marginalized groups looking for relevant and accessible elections-related content.

The rules imposed by Bill 307 penalize independent democratic organizations for working collaboratively to serve their communities. This unconstitutional legislation will hinder the discussion of important public policy issues, including those impacting post-secondary education; and undermine effective promotion and equitable participation in Ontario’s electoral process, particularly for students. Taken together, these changes cast a dark shadow over the province’s future.

Signatories:

• Kayla Weiler, National Executive Representative – Canadian Federation of Students–Ontario (CFS-O)
• Sue Wurtele, President – Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA)
• Karen Littlewood, President – Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF)
• Alex Silas, Regional Executive Vice-President – Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC)
• Naureen Rizvi, Ontario Regional Director – Unifor
• Janice Folk-Dawson, Executive Vice-President – Ontario Federation of Labour

The Ontario Universities and Colleges Coalition represents over 435,000 faculty, staff, and students from every public postsecondary institution in Ontario. It includes members of the Canadian Federation of Students–Ontario, Canadian Union of Public Employees, Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations, Ontario Public Service Employees Union, Ontario Secondary Schools Teachers’ Federation, Public Service Alliance of Canada, and United Steelworkers.

To arrange interviews or for more information, please contact:
Ben Lewis, Communications Lead
Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations
blewis@ocufa.on.ca | 416-306-6033

TORONTO, ON, July 21, 2021 via Ontario Universities & Colleges Coalition

Treating a public institution like ‘some mine that went bankrupt’ not acceptable: MP

Via CBC News

Students at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ont., continue to react to news the school is cutting dozens of programs and laying off about 100 professors.

Laurentian made the announcement Monday after declaring itself financially insolvent earlier this year. The school filed for creditor protection on Feb. 1, a first for a university in the province. In total, 69 programs were cut, including 28 in French.

Second-year student and university newspaper editor Lexey Burns says students have told her they are ashamed to be associated with the school.

“I had one girl text me yesterday wondering if a Laurentian degree would be respectable anymore,” she said.

Others, she said, are wondering whether wearing clothes with Laurentian logos would be an embarrassment.

Laurentian University’s financial challenges have existed for years. A court-appointed monitor’s report says ongoing deficits were made worse by Ontario’s tuition reduction and freeze, declining domestic enrolment, capital expenditures, the closure of its Barrie campus, and expenses related to the pandemic.

• A deeper look into Laurentian University’s financial insolvency

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Burns says she’s heard the argument that the cutbacks will enable the university to become leaner, but she doesn’t agree.

“They say it’s going to be a Laurentian 2.0 and I think they got the numbers mixed up. It’s definitely more of a 0.2,” Burns said.

“They’ve gotten rid of almost every single humanities program at Laurentian.”

Midwifery program gone

Like Burns, the future for midwifery student Annette Cloutier is also up in the air.

Cloutier says cutting the midwifery program will impact students, as well as people in the region. 

“A woman who wants midwifery care, woman-centered care, that is culturally appropriate, this is important to northern Ontario,” she said.

“This should be available and accessible to northern Ontario women.”

• ‘An ugly stain for years to come’: Laurentian University students, staff reeling from cuts

• Laurentian University cuts 100 professors, dozens of programs

Recent Laurentian graduate Monseguela Thes says what’s happening at the school will affect students and professors for years to come.

Thes graduated from the school last year with a business administration degree. He’s originally from the Ivory Coast and says the cuts could affect where international students choose to go.

“I don’t think people would feel free to come to Laurentian. It would be very difficult,” he said. “I’m sure that it will be very tough for people to come back.”

Politicians point fingers

Politicians are worried, too.

Nickel Belt NDP MPP France Gélinas and Sudbury NDP MPP Jamie West said in question period Tuesday that Premier Doug Ford needs to fund Laurentian and stop the layoffs.

“Premier Doug Ford and Minister of Colleges and Universities Ross Romano believe students, staff and the community around Laurentian aren’t worth investment,” said West.

Gélinas said Laurentian’s more than 8,000 full- and part-time students are worried and deserve answers.

“Instead of being focused on their final projects and studying for their year-end exams, Laurentian students have been worried about their futures,” said Gélinas.

She notes that Laurentian University is designated under Ontario’s French Language Services Act, which means its French programs are protected.

Meanwhile, at the federal level, NDP MP Charlie Angus, who represents Timmins-James Bay, says the cutbacks are an act of national vandalism.

“You cannot treat a public institution, like a university or a hospital or any other public institution, as though it were just some mine that went bankrupt and you’re going to sell off the assets,” he said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also weighed in on Laurentian’s crisis, saying the federal government is waiting to see what steps the provincial government takes before offering support.

In a statement to CBC News, the office of Ontario’s minister of colleges and universities says for most students, particularly if they are close to graduating, they will be able to complete their degree using all or part of the modules of terminated programs, “either through course substitutions at Laurentian or through letters of permission.

“For a small number of students, Laurentian will assist them in transition to a related program or another institution.”

The ministry says it has provided Laurentian with “consistent operating grants … over the last five years, of close to $80 million a year,” and that it provided the school with “far more funding than other institutions.”

Those grants accounted for more than 40 per cent of Laurentian’s total revenue in 2019-20, the ministry says, compared to a 23 per cent average for the universities’ sector overall.

‘Worst time possible’

For students like Kristiina Raisanen, the instability caused by Monday’s announcement is fuelling a sense of anxiety.

The second-year student is pursuing a double major in political science and philosophy. Her program is also being terminated.

“I spent most of my day [Monday] crying and trying to work through the rest of my semester’s work at the same time. This announcement is coming at the literal worst time possible. We’re in one of our last weeks of school right now, and I have two papers and two exams to do by the end of this week,” she said.

“It feels like the rug has been pulled from underneath my feet and I’m just perpetually falling.”