Laurentian University violated French Language Services Act when it cut programs: report
CBC
Sudbury's Laurentian University violated Ontario's French Language Services Act when it cut 29 French-language programs in April 2021, according to a new report from the province's French language services commissioner.
In her report, Kelly Burke, Ontario's deputy ombudsman and French language services commissioner, concluded the Ministry of Francophone Affairs also "failed to take an active role in monitoring Laurentian University's compliance with its designation, which contributed to a situation where no one was ensuring the protection of language rights under the French Language Services Act."
In February 2021, Laurentian filed for insolvency and entered into creditor protection. In April of that year, the university cut 72 programs, including 29 French-language programs. The university also cut more than 100 faculty and staff positions.
After the cuts, Burke said she received 60 complaints from students, teachers and Franco-Ontarians who were directly affected by the cuts to Francophone education.
On June 16, 2021, her office launched its investigation to determine whether or not Laurentian, and the ministries for Francophone Affairs and Colleges and Universities had broken the French Language Services Act.
"The university violated the requirements of the Act by ceasing to offer two designated degrees [Master of Arts and Master of Human Kinetics] without following any of the mandated procedural steps," the report said.
"I also found that there was no process in place to assess how eliminating programs leading to designated degrees may impact the ability of students to obtain those degrees in French."
During a press conference Thursday morning, Burke said the university did not consult with the Ministry of Colleges and Universities or the Ministry of Francophone Affairs about the potential impacts cuts to French-language programs would have.
"Why is that?" she asked.
Burke said she made 19 recommendations in the report, which touch on three key areas: assessment, consultation and collaboration.
"I concluded that the lack of consultation in any assessment process led to the university's violation of the French Languages Service Act," she said.
"I also noted that the lack of consultation, assessment and collaboration processes resulted from the lack of proactivity on the part of the three organizations."
Burke noted in her report that all of her recommendations have been accepted by the provincial ministries and Laurentian University.
Denis Constantineau, spokesperson for the Coalition Nord-Ontarienne pour une Université de Langue Française (Northern Ontario Coalition for a French-Language University), said there was "lots of buzz" in the Francophone community following the release of the report Thursday morning.
Run 3 Space | Play Space Running Game
Traffic Jam 3D | Online Racing Game
Duck Hunt | Play Old Classic Game
Financial disclosures submitted to Newfoundland and Labrador's Liberal Party show Premier John Hogan received close to three times the amount of money his opponent, John Abbott, brought in during the leadership campaign — including large-scale donations from groups that benefit from government contracts.
Outside a hockey arena in the Copper Cliff neighbourhood of Sudbury, Ont., there's a group of three interconnected trailers with the Statistics Canada logo blazoned at the top.
In Victoria Joumaa's Halifax home, there are bedrooms furnished with single beds — soccer balls on the nightstands in one room, a pink owl clock and a plush panda toy in the other — with clothing in both closets, all for children who do not live there.
If you stand in the trees and brush between Trout Creek and Kurtis Carter and Kassandra Chudiak's home in Sussex, you can hear water rushing by.
Montreal and provincial police have made several arrests Thursday morning targeting the Rizzuto family in the Montreal area, Radio-Canada is reporting.
Terry Romanski says he knew by the May long weekend that something bad had happened to his son.
As some northern Saskatchewan residents begin returning to their communities, Matthew Maurer says local businesses are running low emotionally and financially, with no support from the provincial government.
Three years after approving an anti-racism strategy, Edmonton city council has decided on the parameters for an independent body to oversee efforts within the community.
A Surrey, B.C., man says two recent shootings at his businesses are connected to ongoing extortion attempts targeting the South Asian community.
The only Friday the 13th of the year is coming up this week and for Port Dover, Ont., that means the return of the famous biker rally.
Stellantis workers at the Windsor, Ont., assembly plant are returning to two full shifts a week earlier than previously expected.
As Alberta faces the prospect of another summer plagued by wildfire smoke, experts are urging people to monitor conditions and take steps to protect their long-term health.