On April 16, 2012, OCUFA President Constance Adamson, Executive Director Mark Rosenfeld, Research Director Donna Gray, and Government and Community Relations Analyst Erica Rayment met with Minister of Labour Linda Jeffrey. This was OCUFA’s first meeting with the Minister. In addition to introducing Minister Jeffrey to the organization, OCUFA sought clarification on some of [Read More…]
Politics
OCUFA has completed a full analysis of the 2012 Ontario Budget. We are deeply concerned about the inadequate operating funding, as well as the apparent willingness of the Government of Ontario to interfere in collective bargaing, pensions, and compensation. Read the full analysis.
OCUFA is disappointed that today’s provincial budget effectively cuts university resources while signaling increased government intervention in labour relations. “If you look behind the numbers in the budget, the government is providing less money to universities than recommended by Don Drummond,” said Constance Adamson, President of the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA). “University education is one [Read More…]
On March 6, 2012, OCUFA President Constance Adamson met with NDP Critic for Training, Colleges and Universities Teresa Armstrong. Adamson highlighted several issues important to Ontario’s professors and academic librarians, including the need for renewed investment in higher education. Ms. Armstrong and her staff indicated her desire to work with OCUFA and bring these issues [Read More…]
After last week, you’d be forgiven for being a little lost on what tuition policy looks like in Ontario. On Thursday, March 8, 2012, it was reported that Ontario would be moving to standardized tuition fees , set by the Government of Ontario. This new fee structure would require some universities to raise their fees, potentially hurting students. Other [Read More…]
As with many things in public policy, the devil is in the details. Right now, many universities offer a three year option to their undergraduate students. Demand for these programs is low, and some institutions have decided to phase them out. Three year degrees – not as an option, but as the new norm – are [Read More…]
After reviewing the final report of the Commission on the Reform of Ontario’s Public Services, faculty and academic librarians are unimpressed. Drummond has provided Ontario with a poor plan for ‘transforming’ our public services, and is essentially a plan for huge cuts to public spending hiding behind a screen of poorly costed and ill-considered recommendations [Read More…]
At the February meeting of the OCUFA Board of Directors, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities Glen Murray spoke and took questions from faculty associations representatives from across Ontario. The Minister again outlined his interest in accelerated three-year undergraduate degrees, all-year instruction at universities, and increased reliance on online education. As was made clear [Read More…]
OCUFA is criticizing the report of the Drummond Commission on the Reform of Ontario’s Public Services for being long on cuts and short on insights. Taken together, Drummond’s recommendations would continue the erosion of educational quality at Ontario’s universities and colleges. “Drummond recognizes that higher education is severely underfunded. He also recognizes that universities and colleges [Read More…]
On February 1, 2012, the Canadian Federation of Students held a nation-wide protest against the high cost of higher education in Canada. OCUFA President Constance Adamson wrote a letter of support to Ontario Chairperson Sandy Hudson, and OCUFA was a featured speaker at the press conference launching the Ontario event. In her letter, Adamson [Read More…]
On January 23, 2012, OCUFA President Constance Adamson met with the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities Glen Murray. Among other issues, Adamson spoke of the urgent need for faculty hiring and quality investments in the university sector. For his part, the Minister highlighted the province’s fiscal challenges, as well as his early plans [Read More…]
They say no news is good news. But where this week’s Throne Speech and Economic Update is concerned, no news is just no news. Tuesday’s Throne speech reiterated the Liberal Government’s higher education campaign pledges – 60,000 new student places at colleges and universities, three new ‘undergraduate campuses’ and a tuition rebate. We have some [Read More…]
Linda Jeffrey (Brampton-Springdale) has been appointed the Ontario Government’s Minister of Labour and Seniors. Elected in 2003, she has served as Minister of Natural Resources. Randy Hillier (Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox-Addington), a former electrician, is the Progressive Conservative labour critic. The NDP labour critic is Taras Natyshak (Essex), who, before his election this year, was director of training [Read More…]
Last night, Premier Dalton McGuinty appointed the Honourable Glen Murray as the new Minister of Training, Colleges, and Universities. Minister Murray was previously the Minister of Research & Innovation and is the Member of Provincial Parliament for Toronto Centre. He has also served as the Mayor of Winnipeg and President of the Canadian Urban Institute . OCUFA congratulates Minister Murray [Read More…]
The American Association of University Professors (AUPP) has warmly endorsed the Occupy Wall Street movement. “The gap between the rich and the poor is greater than ever before in our lifetime,” said the AAUP, “and we need to stand up for those who are trying to improve their circumstances and provide for their families.” The AAUP also expressed solidarity with students, [Read More…]