Failure to comply may impact grant funding
On Aug. 30 of 2018, Doug Ford and the PC party issued a mandate to Ontario post-secondary institutions to develop a free speech policy. Universities and colleges have until Jan. 1, 2019 to “develop, implement and comply” to a free speech policy, according to a statement from the Office of the Premier. If a university or college fails to comply, the school will risk “a reduction in operating grant funding.”
Starting in September 2019, colleges and universities will have to report annually on their progress to the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO).
The Central Student Association (CSA) issued a statement in response to Premier Doug Ford, voicing opposition to the mandate. “There is no free speech crisis on campus. This false perception of a lack of open discourse ignores the work of our student union and groups, faculty associations and labour unions,” the statement reads. “This Freedom of speech directive of the Ontario government does not benefit universities, faculty, or workers and it punishes students with a heavy hand.”
“Freedom of expression is fundamental to a thriving University,” VP (student affairs) Carrie Chassels told The Ontarion. “It’s important for students to know that freedom of expression policy is intended to facilitate freedom of expression and to do so in a way that is safe, but also doesn’t restrict people’s rights to express themselves through peaceful protest.”
The mandate arrives following highly publicized incidents at Wilfrid Laurier University where teaching assistant Lindsay Shepherd was reprimanded for showing a clip featuring Jordan Peterson, who gained global recognition for his controversial stance on gender-neutral pronouns.
Shepherd brought Faith Goldy, who was fired by Rebel Media for appearing on a podcast associated with the white supremacist website The Daily Stormer, to Laurier’s campus in March 2018 as part of her “unpopular speaker series.” The talk was shut down after a student pulled a fire alarm.
At a town hall held for students on Wednesday, Oct. 10, the majority of students voiced concerns about the policy opening doors for speakers like Goldy, or hypothetical Holocaust deniers.
Another student voiced support, arguing for free debate even when it comes to the most controversial topics.
“This policy or statement at Guelph will ensure us that freedom of expression has its limits and that it does not supersede hate as already put in the Canadian law,” Jane Ngobia, assistant vice president at the Office of Diversity and Human Rights, told The Ontarion. “The limits of speech says you cannot express yourself, so that it does not discriminate any group, or that it calls for violence against any group.”
The Senate passed a final draft on Monday Nov. 28 and is awaiting approval from the Board of Governors.
Photo by Matteo Cimellaro