September 21, 2023

India has issued a new travel advisory encouraging Indian nationals and students to “exercise utmost caution” when travelling in Canada. “Given the deteriorating security environment in Canada, Indian students in particular are advised to exercise extreme caution and remain vigilant,” states the advisory. Students are also required to register with the High Commission of India, Consulates General of India, or MADAD portal in the event of any emergency. The travel advisory was issued shortly after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Parliament that there was reason to believe that “agents of the Indian government” were behind the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, BC. India has reportedly called the allegations “absurd and motivated.”

The Government of Quebec’s Office québécois de la langue française (OQLF) has published its findings on the linguistic breakdown of QC postsecondary students. The OQLF report found that the number of students attending French-language universities rose by about 55,000 students or 31.5% between 2002 and 2021, while attendance at English-language universities increased by about 20,000 students (35.6%). The cégep student population stayed stable at about 55,000 students over the last 14 years, as did the number of students enrolled at French-language cégeps. Enrolment at English-language cégeps increased by about 800 students (9%) over the last 14 years.

Reporters from the Canadian Press, as well as and , are scrutinizing an agreement between Memorial University’s Fisheries and Marine Institute and the controversial firm OceanGate. According to documents obtained by and the Canadian Press, Memorial and OceanGate reportedly signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in early 2023–prior to the implosion of the Titan submersible–that indicated Memorial would provide storage space for the submersible. Some experts have since critiqued the partnership, claiming that Memorial’s participation could have potentially lent legitimacy to OceanGate. In a comment for the Canadian Press, a Memorial spokesperson said that the MOU was a non-binding, general agreement, rather than a formal partnership, and that there were no plans for staff or students to ever board the Titan.

In its recently unveiled 10-year strategic plan, the University of Alberta has shared that it intends to grow enrolment by 35% over the next decade. This would see the university’s student body grow by 14,000 students to 60,000 in total, with the majority of this growth expected to stem from domestic students. “We want to be there for young Albertans to provide them with all of the opportunity they seek [“¦] so that they can go forward in their careers and in their lives and stay in Alberta,” said UAlberta President Bill Flanagan. UAlberta student union president Christian Fotang told that students hope that the quality of education and services are maintained with this substantial growth: “We have to make sure that the services and support are there for [the students].”

The Queen’s University Health Sciences’ Office of Professional Development & Educational Scholarship, in collaboration with the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC), has launched new national curricula to support physicians contending with Canada’s opioid crisis. The national curricula are bilingual, competency-based, and intended to help physicians in pain management, opioid use disorder, and addiction medicine. “We are proud to help develop this dynamic space for learning,” said Queen’s Health Sciences Dean Dr Jane Philpott. “Addiction and pain management are critical issues in our health system and this program will help prepare students and professionals to meet our patients’ and communities’ needs.”

An article published in argues that rich countries should align their science funding with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The article notes that no SDG is on target to be achieved by the 2030 deadline. While upper-middle and high-income countries spend more on science, only 30-40% of their scientific publications are explicitly connected to the SDGs. Low-income countries are more likely to conduct SDG-aligned research, with 60-80% of their publications having a connection to the SDGs. encourages governments to reprioritize their funding to ensure that national priorities are not viewed as competing with global priorities and advocates for the SDGs to be seen as non-optional responsibilities.

Northlands College has launched a Radiation and Environmental Monitoring Technician Program in Buffalo Narrows. The program will prepare students for careers as radiation monitoring technicians who monitor, evaluate, and ensure compliance with radiation safety regulations or as environmental monitoring technicians who assess how industrial and mining activities will impact the environment and ensure adherence to regulations. “This program equips learners with the technical capabilities required to excel in these critical roles, fostering personal and regional growth,” said Northlands President Karsten Henriksen.

Members of York University unions held a rally yesterday at Keele campus to call for fair wages. The rally was supported by the York University Staff Association (YUSA), York University Faculty Association (YUFA), CUPE 3903, and CUPE 1356, who together represent a wide range of staff, faculty, services, and business operations. A release from YUSA states that workers have received wage increases of only 1% each year in the last three years, while inflation reached 6.8% in 2022 alone. “Workers at York University have seen their wages decline relative to inflation and now many have difficulty meeting their basic needs,” said YUSA President Sonny Day.

North Island College has begun construction on its new Student Housing Commons, which will free up space in the community by introducing housing for 217 students by Fall 2025. The commons will offer a range of housing options, including family housing, individual bedrooms, studio apartments, and accessible units for individuals with disabilities. The buildings will also include common areas including interfaith rooms, a community garden, play areas, and gathering spaces. “Obviously, it makes success in the classroom a lot more difficult when you’re wondering, “˜Do I have housing next month or next week?’ [“¦] This project will hopefully alleviate some of that strain on our students,” said NIC Student Housing Manager Jay de Montarnal.

The building that hosts Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick’s Bathurst campus and the Université de Moncton Shippagan’s Bathurst site was evacuated this week after a material suspected to be asbestos was found. CCNB reported that a dust was found in one of the main rooms on campus, which workers subsequently suspected could be asbestos. CCNB and UMoncton subsequently closed their Bathurst sites as a precautionary measure until further notice. CCNB President Pierre Zundel stated that an external firm is currently carrying out an air quality assessment to determine if asbestos was in fact emitted; the results of which should be available this week.