OCUFA to Work Closely with New Minister Responsible for Ontario Universities
The Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) congratulates the Honourable Nolan Quinn in his return to office as the Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security.
As both domestic and international pressures drive economic uncertainty for Canada, it is more important than ever for the provincial government and Ontario universities to come together and find actionable solutions that adequately support faculty, academic librarians, researchers, and students.
Ontario’s public universities are grossly and chronically underfunded. In response, university administrations have had to scramble to find quick fixes, leading to program shutdowns and even layoffs at other postsecondary institutions. These programs not only enrich the educational experiences of students, but also universities have been proven to drive economic growth in the communities they serve. We must look quickly and closely at revising Ontario’s university funding model, or else we risk further closures and additional hardships on our university communities and imperil students’ futures.
“We’ve always been ready and look forward soon to having a positive, two-way dialogue with the Minister and his ministry, who we believe shares our vision for a strong world-class university system in Ontario,” says Nigmendra Narain, President of OCUFA. “Over the years, we’ve built a strong case for solutions to address chronic underfunding for Ontario’s universities, and we are prepared to discuss these measures with Minister Quinn at his earliest convenience.”
The Province’s decision to rename the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security comes at a distressing time for Ontario’s research sector. South of the border, universities are having their funding cut in the name of efficiency. This has a trickle-down effect for Canadian researchers who collaborate on U.S.-based research studies and leaves the future of Canadian-based research in flux. We need assurance from the provincial government and Minister Quinn that the resources Ontario’s research community relies on will not be in jeopardy.
“Every day that passes brings another risk for more funding cuts and cancellations for Ontario and Canada’s world-renowned researchers and faculty,” says Jenny Ahn, Executive Director of OCUFA. “It’s time to sit down with the Province so these important members of our community can feel like they have some real security.”
OCUFA looks forward to collaborating with Minister Quinn on creating a brighter, stronger future for Ontarian universities. As he begins his new term, we invite him to review OCUFA’s pre-budget submission, which outlines specific solutions and steps to achieve these results, and we hope to meet to discuss soon.