Can the financial crisis of a bilingual university in northern Ontario lead to the creation of a fully francophone institution in Doug Ford’s country? Franco-Ontarians are mobilizing to ensure that all French-language programs at Laurentian University, which is struggling to avoid bankruptcy, be transferred to the University of Sudbury, in this Francophone stronghold in the northeast of the province.
Laurentian University was placed under Ontario bankruptcy law in February, a first for a public educational institution in Canada. The university senate held a lengthy closed-door meeting on Tuesday to discuss a cutback plan that raises fears of the elimination of a series of positions.
Professors and students fear a bleeding in French programs, the weight of which has been declining for years within the bilingual establishment. According to our information, at the time these lines were written, there was particular mention of the disappearance of programs in French at the Faculty of Arts.
The apprehended dismantling of large sections deemed “unprofitable” of a public institution is causing concern in academia. The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT), which has 72,000 members across the country, is mounting the barricades to prevent this gesture from inspiring other institutions.
“The Laurentian crisis must challenge all teachers across the country. This is what happens when you let the laws of the market dictate the future of education. We will no doubt close departments that attract fewer “customers”. It is an attack on freedom of education, ”said a source who requested anonymity.
Laurentian’s difficulties are not due to a drop in registrations, says Brenda Austin-Smith, President of CAUT. Nor is it the salaries of professors that have put the university on the brink of collapse. The underfunding of universities by the government of Doug Ford and that of his predecessors has dealt a heavy blow to institutions, notes CAUT. Management errors are also invoked.
“The situation is starting to take shape. For example, bad decisions on campus modernization were made that resulted in huge mortgages on half-empty buildings. Directors will have to be held responsible for their lack of transparency and their financial blunders, ”said Brenda Austin-Smith in a statement sent to Duty.
Stop erosion
Stéphanie Chouinard, specialist in linguistic issues in Canada, believes that the political context is favorable for the University of Sudbury to become francophone. The management of the university announced in mid-March that it wishes to give up its bilingual status to become entirely French-speaking.
“The Franco-Ontarian community has had difficulties for years with the offer of programs in French at Laurentian University. The institution operates mainly in English. Francophones are always asking for accommodations, ”notes the professor at the Royal Military College of Canada and Queen’s University.
It is obvious that Laurentian University will go ahead with cuts to French programs. It will hurt. There has been an erosion of French programming for years. It must stop!
As part of its “restructuring” accompanied by apprehended budget cuts, the bilingual establishment has decided to dismantle the federation it forms with three Ontario universities – Sudbury, Thorneloe and Huntington. It seems natural for the University of Sudbury to reconnect with its French roots, recalls Stéphanie Chouinard: the establishment, founded by the Jesuits, was called the Sacré-Coeur College before achieving university status, there is more than half a century.
Laurentian University management assures us that its 1,900 French-speaking students will continue to be served despite the restructuring plan. The survival of the bilingual establishment rests in large part on its programs in French, funded in millions by Ottawa under programs intended for linguistic minorities, recalls Professor Chouinard.
“It is obvious that Laurentian University will go ahead with cuts to programs in French. It will hurt. There has been an erosion of French programming for years. It must stop! »Says Carol Jolin, president of the Assembly of the Francophonie of Ontario.
The Assembly collected 1,500 signatures in just over 24 hours in a campaign calling for the transfer of French-language programs from Laurentian University to the University of Sudbury.
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