ON postsecondary associations share concerns about Bill 26

Ontario faculty, staff, and students have shared concerns about elements of Bill 26, the Strengthening Post-secondary Institutions and Students Act, which addresses sexual violence against students. The Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations, Canadian Union of Public Employees, Ontario Public Service Employees Union, and the Canadian Federation of Students – Ontario have raised concerns about the new act and its narrow focus on eliminating non-disclosure agreements in cases of faculty and staff misconduct against students and creating a standard definition of sexual abuse. The organizations call for an expanded focus that includes all sexual violence, greater clarification on how survivors will be supported, and a clear addressal of campus sexual violence in a survivor-centred and evidence-based way. “OCUFA, CUPE, CFSO, and their members call on the provincial government to engage in meaningful consultation with these and other partners who represent our post-secondary communities to make our campuses safer for all,” reads the release. Note: Archived stories may contain dead links or be missing source links.