December 5, 2025

In a co-authored op-ed, Daniel Jutras (Université de Montréal), Sophie D’Amours (Université Laval), Jean-Pierre Perreault (Université de Sherbrooke), and Deep Saini (McGill University) warn that Québec’s Bill 106 risks sidelining medical education and research by overlooking the role of universities and instructors. The authors pointed to signs that physicians may begin dropping teaching responsibilities as early as next semester due to shifting financial incentives. They argue that medical faculties must be directly involved in reform discussions and call for mechanisms—such as adjusted funding models or teaching-specific incentives—to ensure that research and education are not devalued or overlooked.

University of King’s College President Bill Lahey has responded to claims from the King’s Students Union about the university’s $1.8M deficit and potential future financial situation. While refuting the union’s claims stated that the university will run out of fund by the 2026-27 academic year, Lahey confirmed that the university could run out of money within the next decade if changes are not made. Having already imposed a hiring freeze and presidential salary freeze, the university is assessing additional measures like senior administrator hiring freezes and delays to planned projects. Lahey also said that the institution is exploring solutions like strengthening ties with Dalhousie University, growing offerings of its successful MFA programming, and increase fundraising efforts. “We’re determined to make it better,” Lahey said.

The information marketplace around college admissions has become overwhelming and unhelpful for students, writes Jeffrey Selingo for the Chronicle of Higher Ed. Selingo recommends that institutions move beyond rankings-focused marketing and instead build a more “responsible information marketplace.” This marketplace would highlight the data that truly matters—such as quality of teaching, student belonging, and access to mentors—and provide better context for stats on graduation rates, net cost, and job outcomes. He also calls for admissions officers to serve as navigators who help families interpret complex data. These changes, he argues, could help restore trust in the admissions process and better align it with what students and families actually need.

The Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario has fined and sanctioned retired KPMG auditor Laurie Bissonette for professional misconduct related to her oversight of Laurentian University’s 2020 audit, reports CBC. The audit preceded Laurentian’s move to file for insolvency under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act in early 2021. According to CTV News, Bissonette admitted to failing to meet professional standards, including inadequate documentation and insufficient evaluation of the university’s financial viability. She relied heavily on internal forecasts, did not follow up on signs of financial instability, and failed to investigate the hiring of firms specializing in insolvency, Radio-Canada adds. Bissonette retired shortly before Laurentian’s filing.

Two institutions in Québec have recently announced new and renewed programs. Cégep de Baie-Comeau has announced that it will be launching an attestation d’études collégiales program in forestry inventories and the environment in Fall 2026. This program is designed to address the need for skilled workers in the forestry centre. The Université de Québec au Montréal has announced an overhaul of its undergraduate programs in art history and museology. UQAM director of programs Eduardo Ralickas explained that the revisions to the art history programming in particular will ensure that the programs address key current issues—such as Indigenous art, inclusivity, and women’s art—in Québec and beyond.

Critics are watching the rollout of Ontario’s Bill 33—the Supporting Children and Students Act—to determine if and how they will challenge it. ON stated that the bill is meant to ensure transparency and trust in the postsecondary system. University of Toronto Ontario Institute for Studies in Education Professor Glen Jones decried the bill as “probably the most horrendous intervention into university autonomy in the history of the province” and referenced how universities’ silence is due to “a sense that nothing can be gained here.” OCUFA and CFS Ontario representatives added that they are also watching changes. Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance President Sayak Sneddon-Ghosal highlighted the potential consequences of the bill and how it could limit access to postsecondary education for those facing barriers.

The Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF) is investing up to $2.75M over five years to support and establish AgSphere, an agrifood innovation hub bringing together partners that include Olds College of Agriculture & Technology. AgSphere will be located at Stampede Park and will bring together producers, startups, investors, and other partners. “By uniting our College’s agricultural and educational strengths with Calgary’s growing innovation ecosystem, this hub will accelerate new technologies, attract investment and help build the skilled workforce our industry needs for the future,” said Olds VP External Relationships & Research Todd Ormann.

Holland College is creating the John and Christine Andrew Centre of Excellence in Watershed Management to study the province’s water system and the potential effects of changes to it over time. Located on land gifted to the college by the Andrew family, the centre will mainly be used by four of the college’s programs: Wildlife Conservation Technology, Environmental Applied Science Technology, Data Analytics, and Bioscience Technology. The centre will have six core objectives, which will be examined through a First Nations lens. The centre currently has several partners including the University of Prince Edward Island and Abegweit First Nation, and the college is seeking additional funding through the federal government.

The University of Ottawa has reopened admissions to its Honours BA in Greek and Roman Studies. Earlier this Fall, the university announced that it was pausing admissions and engaging in an overhaul of the program, citing low enrolment. UOttawa Department of Classics and Religious Studies Chair Dominique Côté explained that the decision to resume admission was influenced by bilingualism rules. He also noted the international attention to the program in the form of a petition, which received over 4,000 signatures, and letters from around the world calling for its preservation.

The Université de Montréal has opened its Bibliothèque d’objets—library of objects—to provide students with access to tools and equipment for projects at a low cost. Students can check out tools like a drill screw, jigsaw, hand truck, or a stepladder as part of a $25 yearly subscription to the program. UMontréal sustainable development coordinator Luc Surprenant said that sharing expensive and rarely-used objects is a good way to reduce the material footprint of the community. Members of the university’s sustainable development team are on site to welcome and provide assistance to students. A planned future expansion of the library will include outdoor items and event equipment.