On June 29th, Merrilee Fullerton was appointed Minister of the newly retitled Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, in the new Premier’s Cabinet. Minister Fullerton is a first-term Progressive Conservative MPP from the riding of Kanata-Carleton. She is an alumna of the University of Ottawa’s medical school and a formerly practicing doctor.
Ms. Fullerton does not have any previous professional background in the field of postsecondary education and it remains unclear what the PC government and Minister Fullerton’s plans are for the sector, outside of the previously announced freedom of speech protection measures.
OCUFA is hoping to meet with Minister Fullerton in the coming weeks to discuss her vision for the future of higher education in Ontario and current issues facing the higher education system, including the rise in precarious jobs and the need for government re-investment in universities.