February 10, 2026

The Government of Canada has invested $6M over 15 years to create a national research partnership focused on the country’s productivity. The partnership will be led by the University of Calgary and will bring together federal government bodies, non-governmental partners, and five postsecondary institutions: HEC Montréal, McMaster University, Memorial University, the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, and Western University. “”Productivity is at the heart of nearly every economic challenge Canada faces today,” said UCalgary Professor Trevor Tombe. “This partnership is about turning world-class research into practical insight for decision-makers on a national scale.”

Inmates in Quebec’s federal prisons will soon lose access to cégep programming, following cuts by Correctional Service Canada. Both inmates and representatives from affected cégeps, like Cégep Marie-Victorin, decried Correctional Service Canada’s decision. “We do not accept the situation,” said Cégep Marie-Victorin executive director Louis Gendron, adding that he and a group of professors plan to pen a letter to the provincial and federal governments asking that they reverse the changes. A 2020 report from the Bureau de l’enquêteur correctionnel reported that offenders who completed at least one level of an education program showed a significant reduction in new crime on conditional release relative to those not placed in an education program.

Last week, a delegation of 20 Canadian university presidents met with Indian university leadership to explore new avenues for collaboration in academics and research. Universities Canada stated that the partners were exploring opportunities such as 2+2 undergraduate programs, joint industry-linked PhDs, and exchanges and research partnerships. The Hindu and the Indian Express report that the Canadian delegation was also encouraged to consider establishing campuses in India. In his pre-departure comments, Universities Canada CEO Gabriel Miller asserted that “there is no other sector of our economy […] that’s mobilized so early to take a national delegation there [to India] and support the roadmap in rebuilding the relationship between the two countries.”

McMaster University student Madeline Schizas, who is competing at the Olympics as a figure skater for Team Canada, made international headlines after posting about an extension on a university assignment. Schizas shared an email she sent to her professor to request an extension on an assignment, stating “I was competing in the Olympic Games yesterday and thought the reflection was due on Sunday, not Friday.” The Daily Mail called the email “one of the greatest excuse notes in history.” McMaster posted the professor’s approval of the extension, in which they encouraged her to focus on the competition in the meantime.

The Canadian Association for University Continuing Education (CAUCE) has released a sector brief that articulates a pan-Canadian value proposition for continuing education units and the impact they can have on strengthening the country’s skills ecosystem. The brief discusses the historic development of continuing education units in Canadian higher ed, and how they now operate as a key part of the rapid-skilling and innovation ecosystem. The brief concludes by asserting that “with the right policy alignment and support, [continuing ed] units can expand their proven role as the infrastructure of lifelong learning, helping Canada remain resilient, innovative, and inclusive in the decades ahead.”

Niagara College, the University of Niagara Falls Canada, the Université du Québec à Montréal, and York University have each shared programming updates. Niagara has launched a three-year Defence Systems Engineering Technology program and a two-year Defence Systems Engineering Technician program. UNFC has announced four new programs: the Honours Bachelor of Science in Bioveterinary Science, which will start in Fall 2026; and three master’s programs starting in 2027 in the areas of sustainability systems, regenerative sustainability, and water and food security. UQAM announced a new graduate diploma program focused on interactive experience design. YorkU’s School of Medicine has earned approval for its Undergraduate Medical Education program, which will replace clerkship rotations with specialty placements supporting continuity of care in communities.

McGill University has launched the Pandemic and Emergency Readiness Lab (PERL). McGill PERL Director Dr Joan Liu explained that the lab will take a proactive approach to identifying best practices in addressing hazards that include, but are not limited to pandemics. This lab will bring together experts in medicine, health policy, and communications to prepare for future crisis situations. “Science is under attack, policies are being diluted, and data are fragmented,” said Liu. “We need to fight back against this spiral of vulnerability.”

OCAD University’s Cultural Policy Hub, Synapse C, and Ontario Galleries have collaborated to launch the Canadian Cultural Data Catalogue. This online catalogue includes a broad array of cultural data resources for artists, researchers, policymakers, and organizations across Canada. It is an open-source, centralized, searchable tool that was designed to address the challenges with how cultural data is scattered and siloed. “The catalogue helps users quickly access high-quality, actionable information so they can make informed choices, build stronger cases, tell richer stories, advocate effectively, and better understand the evolving cultural landscape,” said OCAD U President Emerita Dr Sara Diamond.

Castanet reports that declining enrolment and shifts in the postsecondary sector have introduced uncertainty into the Thompson Rivers University Students’ Union’s (TRUSU) plans to develop a new building. The student union has been putting aside money each year to build a new student union building on campus, but TRUSU Executive Director Nathan Lane explained that the union had to dip into its future capital savings to balance its budget for this year. While he described the situation as a one-time circumstance, Lane stated that events like changing student demographics and the provincial review are likely to further stall planning. Castanet reports that a site has been secured for the new building, but there are no conceptual designs or timelines for development at this time.

The members of the Laurentian University Faculty Association (LUFA) ratified a collective agreement on Sunday, ending the three-week strike at the university. The move came after parties returned to the bargaining table for mediated negotiations last week. LUFA President Fabrice Colin said that despite several gains for members, “this new agreement will maintain a gap between our working conditions and those offered at universities across the province.” Colin added that membership has also voted to “organize a vote of non-confidence in the board of governors and senior administration.” Classes could resume by the middle of this week.