August 6, 2025

The Confederation of Faculty Associations of McGill—composed of four McGill University faculty associations—has filed a court challenge against the Government of Quebec’s Bill 89. La Presse explains that the bill expands the services that must be maintained in the event of a strike or lockout and gives the QC Minister of Labour the power to terminate a work stoppage. The faculty associations are seeking to overturn the law as unconstitutional and invalid. McGill Professor Barry Eidlin said that this law “erodes the very foundation on which collective bargaining occurs in Quebec,” as employers have many ways to leverage power over workers while workers can only collectively withhold labour. CBC says that other unions are also planning legal action against the bill, which is set to take effect this November.

While Canadian policymakers and executives have expressed concern about a brain drain of graduates to the US, Murad Hemmadi of The Logic argues that Canada is retaining most of its STEM graduates. Drawing on data from Statistics Canada and comments from economists, Hemmadi explains that most domestic graduates and an increasing share of international graduates are choosing to stay in Canada. Given that the graduates who are most likely to leave Canada are those from high-ranking universities, Hemmadi notes that there is an opportunity to improve retention through targeted policies and programs.

Colleges & Institutes Canada, Polytechnics Canada, and U15 Canada have issued their pre-budget submissions in advance of the 2025 federal budget. In their recommendations, all three organizations called for improved supports for research, development, and innovation activities. This includes investments in existing funds, such as the College and Community Innovation Program (CICan, Polytechnics Canada); as well as the creation of new initiatives like a dedicated defence innovation fund (Polytechnics Canada) or a Sovereign Technologies Fund (U15). They each highlighted opportunities to bolster Canada’s economy and workforce through the postsecondary sector, such as by creating a new set of Apprentice Wayfinding Accelerators (CICan) or offering training vouchers to support workforce adjustment and upskilling (Polytechnics Canada).

Collège Boréal and the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) have partnered to open a veterinary clinic on Boréal’s Sudbury campus. This clinic will address a growing shortage of veterinary professionals and improve animal welfare. The Ontario SPCA Sudbury Regional Veterinary Clinic provides spay/neuter and basic veterinary services for shelter animals and low-income pet owners. It also serves as a hands-on learning environment for students in Boréal’s Veterinary Care Technician program. The clinic currently operates one day per month, with plans to expand operations as resources allow.

A judge has dismissed the University of Regina Students’ Union’s (URSU) application for an injunction against the University of Regina. Justice Peter Bergbusch ruled in favour of URegina, saying that “[c]ompelling the University to collect fees from students on URSU’s behalf in the present circumstances would be unfair to students and irresponsible.” In a statement, URegina President Jeff Keshen assured students that core student services such as health and dental benefits, UPass, and support for student societies will continue. According to CTV News, URSU representatives are not planning to pursue further litigation.

In a recent article for the Globe and Mail, Christopher Worswick (Carleton University) questions whether the actual movement of US scholars to Canada matches the scale of the discussion of national brain gain. While stories of US faculty moving north “are no doubt well received by Canadians,” Worswick says, the reality of the financial circumstances of most institutions, issues with the provincial health-care systems, and the lower available salaries is not conducive to a brain gain. The author outlines the policy and funding changes that would need to happen to strengthen the health-care and postsecondary systems across Canada and enable institutions to generate the level of revenue necessary to make competitive salary offers to international candidates.

Royal Roads University will be delivering courses on the Foundations of Truth & Reconciliation and Indigenous & Non-Indigenous Worldviews in the Workplace to members of the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources BC & Yukon. CPHR BC & Yukon found that most surveyed HR professionals in BC believe that their organizations need to undertake a significant amount of work in terms of reconciliation. “One of the objectives for us as the representative organization for HR, is to ensure we aid our members so they can continue on the reconciliation journey in a respectful, sustainable, and engaged manner,” said CPHR BC & Yukon CEO Anthony Ariganello.

York University’s School of Kinesiology & Health Science has partnered with the Global Observatory for Gender Equality & Sport, an international organization that focuses on furthering equity in and through sport. As a partner, YorkU will contribute to shared goals through research, expertise, and outreach. This will include participation in the Global Observatory Advisory Council, involvement in working groups, and development of joint research and advocacy initiatives such as the launch of a Regional Hub. The partnership will provide faculty and students with hands-on opportunities such as case studies and community-service learning.

In a Psychology Today article, Dawn O Braithwaite (University of Nebraska-Lincoln), with insights from Erin Anderson-Camenzind (University of Denver), explores how intentional communication can help students and their families through the transition to postsecondary education. Drawing on research and personal experience, they recommend strategies such as updating shared rituals, experimenting with new relational rhythms, and adopting flexible communication styles that honour students’ growing independence. While the transition may bring feelings of loss or disorientation, intentional communication can help students and their supporters stay grounded and connected, the authors conclude.

The University of Manitoba’s How to Start a Side Hustle workshop has become a permanent option after a successful pilot year. Participants in this six-week workshop develop the skills they need to launch a business, including how to survey customers, develop financial plans, and adapt their vision. “Entrepreneurship is all about capacity to act,” said UManitoba Stu Clark Centre for Entrepreneurship Startup Coach Ben Isakov, who noted that many people do not take action on their ideas because they “just don’t know that they are capable.” UManitoba lab manager Tony Wong noted that the workshop gives students the opportunity to apply the skills that they learn in their regular classes.