CAUT | Jotup

CAUT calls on the Alberta government to scrap Bill 18

Retrieved on:

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

“Applying a political litmus test to research funding is an unprecedented attack on scientific independence, research integrity and academic freedom,” said CAUT executive director David Robinson.

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“Applying a political litmus test to research funding is an unprecedented attack on scientific independence, research integrity and academic freedom,” said CAUT executive director David Robinson.
Robinson said CAUT is working with its member academic staff associations in the province to explore potential legal challenges should Bill 18 become law.
In the meantime, Robinson noted that all university and college leaders in the province have a positive obligation to protect and promote academic freedom and should be joining calls for the Alberta government to withdraw or amend Bill 18.
CAUT is the national voice of more than 72,000 academic and professional staff at over 125 universities and colleges across Canada.

Federal budget provides welcome investments in research: CAUT

Retrieved on:

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

McInnis, SSHRC, Research, CAUT, University, Investment, CIHR, Coalition, Pharmaceutical industry

OTTAWA, April 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today’s budget delivered investments for researchers across the country, including long-awaited and much-needed increases to graduate and post-doctoral fellowships as well as increases to core research funding.

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OTTAWA, April 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today’s budget delivered investments for researchers across the country, including long-awaited and much-needed increases to graduate and post-doctoral fellowships as well as increases to core research funding.
“This investment in Canada’s next generation of researchers will help recruit promising scholars and support them as they advance our understanding of the world around us,” said Peter McInnis, president of the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT).
“We have long emphasized the opportunities our country was missing by underfunding basic research, so it is both exciting and reassuring to see the federal government’s focus and investment in this year’s budget,” said McInnis.
“As part of the Coalition for Canadian Research, our members were strong advocates for these investments that show what we can do when we work together.”
CAUT is the national voice of more than 72,000 academic and professional staff at more than 125 universities and colleges across the country.

CAUT calls for B.C. minister’s resignation over political interference

Retrieved on:

Thursday, February 1, 2024

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“I am disappointed this instructor [Dr. Knight] continues to have a public post secondary [sic] platform to spew hatred and vitriol,” the minister wrote.

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“I am disappointed this instructor [Dr. Knight] continues to have a public post secondary [sic] platform to spew hatred and vitriol,” the minister wrote.
“I have met with @langaracollege to express my concerns for the Langara and broader communities.
They agree everyone deserves to feel safe.”
Dr. Knight was fired from the college within 24 hours of the minister’s posting.
“The minister is free, as any citizen is, to disagree with Dr. Knight’s political views,” said CAUT’s Robinson.

Feds urged to do more to protect international students: CAUT

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

Housing, Federation, Statistics Canada, Fraud, Travel, Immigration, Government, CAUT, University, Tutoring

OTTAWA, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) is calling on the federal government to do more to protect international students from fraud and abuse.

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OTTAWA, Dec. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) is calling on the federal government to do more to protect international students from fraud and abuse.
“We agree with the Minister that international students are being targeted for abuse and exploitation by unscrupulous actors, and that is hurting the global reputation of Canada’s universities and colleges,” said CAUT executive director David Robinson.
According to Statistics Canada , the average undergraduate tuition for the 2023-2024 school year is $38,081 for international students, compared to $7,076 for domestic students.
“Institutions need to ensure they have the housing, facilities, services, and staff to support international students,” he said.

CAUT welcomes federal plan to exclude public universities and colleges from bankruptcy and insolvency laws

Retrieved on:

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Insolvency, University, Bankruptcy, Government, Student, Legislation, Federation, Democracy, Laurentian University, CAUT, Parliament, Management

OTTAWA, Nov. 22, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) welcomes yesterday’s announcement in the Fall Economic Statement that the federal government will amend the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act and the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act to exclude public universities and colleges.

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OTTAWA, Nov. 22, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) welcomes yesterday’s announcement in the Fall Economic Statement that the federal government will amend the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act and the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act to exclude public universities and colleges.
“The Liberal government has made good on its promise to close the loophole that allowed the Laurentian University administration to bypass traditional ways that colleges and universities manage financial difficulties,” said CAUT executive director David Robinson.
“Corporate insolvency legislation was never intended to be used by public institutions like universities and colleges,” said Robinson.
“The laws are misaligned with the goals of public universities and colleges to train students, promote democracy, and advance knowledge.

Post-secondary institutions still unprotected, largely excluded from Budget 2023

Retrieved on:

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

University, College, CCAA, Research, Lawyer, Consultant, Government, Student, Canadian Association of University Teachers, Investment, CAUT, Liberal, McInnis, Community Innovation Survey, Tutoring, Management, Nursing

Ottawa, March 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The federal budget failed to make needed investments in post-secondary education or protect colleges and universities from corporate insolvency, says the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT).

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Ottawa, March 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The federal budget failed to make needed investments in post-secondary education or protect colleges and universities from corporate insolvency, says the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT).
In its pre-budget submission , CAUT recommended the government invest in research and graduate student scholarships, increase transfers to the provinces to support affordable post-secondary education, and that public universities and colleges be excluded from the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA).
Moreover, this budget provided no new operating funding nor investments in basic research.
“Education and research are key to helping Canadians meet present and future challenges, whether the climate emergency or public health crisis,” said McInnis.

CAUT calls for balanced copyright laws during Fair Dealing Week

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Federation, Research, Learning, Government, Canadian Association of University Teachers, Student, Copyright, Knowledge, CAUT, Fair, Music

Fair dealing allows users to copy materials for educational and research purposes, as well as other reasonable and fair circumstances, without first obtaining permission from copyright owners.

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Fair dealing allows users to copy materials for educational and research purposes, as well as other reasonable and fair circumstances, without first obtaining permission from copyright owners.
“Fair dealing encourages learning, dissemination of knowledge, innovation, and the open exchange of ideas while respecting the work of others,” said David Robinson, executive director of CAUT.
During Fair Dealing Week, an international event marked from February 20 to 24, CAUT is joining with students, copyright experts, and post-secondary institutions to stand up for user rights in copyright law.
A balanced approach to copyright is critical, but recent developments are skewing rules in favour of copyright owners, noted Robinson.

Two years after Laurentian bankruptcy, former staff still paying the price (CAUT)

Retrieved on:

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

“The stress, anxiety and fear that this loss brought on at that point in my pregnancy are indescribable,” she said.

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“The stress, anxiety and fear that this loss brought on at that point in my pregnancy are indescribable,” she said.
“I returned because I’m still passionate about teaching and this French-language program is so important to our community.
Earlier, Senator Lucie Moncion proposed a bill in the Senate (S-215) that would exclude public post-secondary institutions from the CCAA.
“The CCAA is a corporate tool that was never intended to be used by public institutions like Laurentian,” said David Robinson, executive director of CAUT.

University and college teachers urge Liberal government to protect universities from insolvency law

Retrieved on:

Friday, November 25, 2022

Canadian Association of University Teachers, Laurentian University, CAUT, Pension, Government, McInnis, House, University, Liberal, Democracy, Party, Senate, CCAA, Security (finance), Laurentian

In 2021, the Liberals committed in their election platform to protect public post-secondary educational institutions, such as Laurentian University, from being subject to corporate restructuring, yet little has been done to change this.

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In 2021, the Liberals committed in their election platform to protect public post-secondary educational institutions, such as Laurentian University, from being subject to corporate restructuring, yet little has been done to change this.
What happened at Laurentian was wrong and had far-reaching impacts for Northern Ontario, Francophone communities, and Indigenous communities, said CAUT President Peter McInnis.
The demand made during a meeting of the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT), comes on the heels of the Auditor General of Ontarios Special Report on Laurentian University.
The CCAA process is misaligned with the goals of public universities, said CAUT Executive Director David Robinson.

Special Report on Laurentian: A damning account of mismanagement

Retrieved on:

Friday, November 18, 2022

Laurentian University, University, CAUT, Breaking news, Retirement, Government, Special Report on Climate Change and Land, Education, Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, Research, Federation, CCAA, Management, Laurentian

The Special Report on Laurentian University detailsyears of financial mismanagement at Laurentian University which culminated in the unprecedented and unnecessary decision to file for insolvencyprotection under the Companies Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) on February 1, 2021.

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The Special Report on Laurentian University detailsyears of financial mismanagement at Laurentian University which culminated in the unprecedented and unnecessary decision to file for insolvencyprotection under the Companies Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) on February 1, 2021.
"The Auditor General is absolutely unequivocal in concluding that Laurentian Universitys administration did not have to, and should not have, turned to the CCAA, said CAUT executive director David Robinson.
Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk found that, for over a decade, ill-conceived capital expansions, combined with weak governance oversight, led to Laurentian Universitys financial crisis.
In the end,the CCAA process resulted in nearly 200 lost jobs, elimination of programs, and a significant impact on the community.