May 6, 2024

University of Alberta President Bill Flanagan recently issued a statement responding to the Government of Alberta’s recently introduced Bill 18. Flanagan wrote that Bill 18 is inconsistent with the university’s support for freedom of expression and commitment to academic freedom. He highlighted some of the risks that the bill poses for research-intensive universities in AB, such as potentially driving researchers to positions in other provinces if their funding is at risk and the potential harm to retention. Flanagan writes that UAlberta’s General Faculties Council has unanimously passed a motion calling for AB to either exempt postsecondary institutions from the bill or withdraw it entirely. “We are asking the Government of Alberta to reaffirm its commitment to freedom of expression and open inquiry,” writes Flanagan.

British Columbia Institute of Technology students who are seeking their Red Seal certification will soon have access to new financial supports, thanks to Beedie Luminaries’s new trades scholarship program: BUILD. Beedie has pledged $5.5M over five years to the BUILD scholarship fund, which will provide select students with up to $20K over four years for tuition and living expenses. Students in the BUILD program will also be connected to a business for their apprenticeship. “In the next ten years, it’s estimated there will be almost 8,500 job openings for carpenters alone,” said BCIT President Dr Jeff Zabudsky. “Translate that demand across all trades, and you understand how critical these jobs are for the future of BC.”

Last week, several updates were released pertaining to the ongoing pro-Palestinian encampment set up on the McGill University campus. During the National Assembly question period last Thursday, Government of Québec Premier François Legault reportedly asked the Montreal police service to dismantle the encampment immediately, calling it “illegal.” While the police did not issue a direct response to Legault’s comments, they published a statement that they would follow the “evolution of the situation” and emphasized that their role is to maintain “public safety while respecting rights and freedoms.” A pro-Israeli demonstration also took place last week near the pro-Palestinian encampment. According to CBC, the pro-Israeli organization was attended by several hundred people and concluded by Thursday afternoon.

A recent article in the Toronto Star discusses the challenges that many students in Ontario are experiencing as they search for affordable housing for this Fall. The Star reporter Janet Hurley discusses the impact of enrolment growth on the demand for student housing at a time when financial challenges have limited these universities’ capacities to meet this demand. As a result, many ON universities are struggling to guarantee housing for first-year students. Hurley underlines the importance of providing this guarantee, referencing a recent study that found that residence living can have a profound impact on academic achievement. She concludes by detailing the efforts many universities are making to tackle this problem, such as building new residences or by forging private partnerships.

The University of Regina is reporting a balanced budget, with revenues and expenditures each totalling $283.1M. The recently approved budget includes a 4% increase to tuition and fees for all graduate and undergraduate programs, due to ongoing inflationary pressures. “The University takes any increase to tuition very seriously and works hard to find the right balance in developing our budget so that we can provide a high-quality post-secondary education and experience to our students while remaining affordable,” said URegina President Dr Jeff Keshen.

Collège de Bois-de-Boulogne and Cégep virtuel have partnered to enable Bois-de-Boulogne students to access synchronous online courses offered by Cégep virtuel. Bois-de-Boulogne students who want to take a virtual course from Cégep virtuel can take the course while remaining registered as a regular student if they obtain sponsorship from their individual education assistance office. This will support student success and give students flexibility to catch up on courses that might not be available, complete a course so they can obtain a diploma, or prioritize work-study balance.

City College is celebrating the grand opening of its Newmarket campus. This represents an expansion for the private institution, which already has a campus in North York. “We looked at York Region and realized that Number 1, it is an untapped market,” said City College Director of Operations Unna Fletcher, who noted the opportunities presented by the region’s population growth. “We’re excited about this location and excited that it is close to Barrie, Keswick, Richmond Hill and all other surrounding areas in York,” said Fletcher.

As pro-Palestine protesters on Canadian university campuses continue to call for divestment and the cutting of ties with Israeli universities, Israeli academics are arguing that this would negatively impact chances for peace. Speaking to the Canadian Press, Tel Aviv University Professor Ran Barkai said that Israeli universities are a major force pushing for reconciliation with Palestinians, so maintaining good international relations with these universities is vital. “If there is a chance at change it comes within academia,” said Barkai, emphasizing that Canadian academics have more of an opportunity to influence Israeli intellectuals if the international university connections remain.

Ontario Tech University has become an ambassador for the Canadians for the Climate Action and Nuclear Disarmament United (CANDU) campaign. The campaign promotes the deployment of CANDU nuclear technology to support clean energy in Canada and around the world. “The campaign’s four pillars align with the university’s commitment to Canada’s energy and environmental future, a key component of our Strategic Research Plan,” said Ontario Tech President Dr Steven Murphy. “This new relationship builds upon our energy research and expertise, enhancing our role in advancing the nation’s leadership in the worldwide journey towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.”

A program created for the Fondation À deux pas de la voix has received a $325K grant from the Government of Québec to expand throughout the province. Through the program, cégep students step in to tutor elementary school children who are experiencing academic challenges. Around fifteen cégeps in Montreal, Estrie, Québec City, and Abitibi have expressed interest in implementing the program; the foundation estimates that as many as 48 cégeps will become involved in the future. The funding will be used to implement the program in cégeps in collaboration with school service centres, provide a deployment guide and start-up support, and create a web communication platform.