Laurentian University's Administration appears intent to file for court protection and proceed with a financial restructuring plan that overrides the principles of collegial governance, collective bargaining rights, and relies on unethical use of research grants to pay off administrative debts. This plan may also jeopardize Laurentian University's important role in having a tricultural mandate to provide English, French, and Indigenous educational programs.
We are disappointed that the Ontario government's recent 2021 provincial budget did not include targeted funding support for Laurentian University, adding to greater uncertainty for Laurentian colleagues, staff, and students. The situation puts in question how the Ontario government supports post-secondary institutions outside the major cities and which, as in the case of Laurentian University, northern citizens.
On March 22, UTFA wrote an open letter to the Laurentian University Faculty Association (LUFA) in a show of solidarity. In the letter, we continue to urge Laurentian University's Administration to re-commit to negotiations with LUFA and its broader coalition rather than file for court protection.
In addition to this letter, we strongly encourage all UTFA members and the University of Toronto community to join the broader coalition in showing support for our northern colleagues before the April 30th deadline.
Please use the links on this page to learn more about the situation at Laurentian and to learn about the many ways to take action in solidarity with LUFA as well as Laurentian's students, staff and the Sudbury community.
Key organizing and action sites
- Northern Solidarity
- Laurentian University Faculty Association
- CAUT Take Action
- Save Our Sudbury (Facebook)
Laurentian solidarity on Twitter
- @oursudbury
- @lufappul
- @ocufa
- @CAUT_ACPPU
- Hashtags: #FundLU, #HumansofLU, #SaveOurSudbury, #NorthernSolidarity, #WheresRoss