Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) members—representing college faculty and staff—held rallies on college campuses across Ontario on Wednesday to draw attention to provincial funding cuts to the college system. The rallies highlighted the ongoing crisis regarding widespread program closures and layoffs. Participants are calling for bridge funding to preserve programming and staff, college funding formula changes to allow more domestic student enrolment, and additional investments in faculty and staff. “Important programs are being lost, and public colleges are moving further away from their mandate to support local communities and economies and to make postsecondary education widely accessible,” said Loyalist College Professor Craig Jackman. An additional rally will be held on Saturday at ON Premier Doug Ford’s campaign office.
