May 28, 2021 – “Ontario’s universities are deeply concerned with the decision to move forward with Schedules 16 and 28 of Bill 276 – Supporting Recovery and Competitiveness Act, 2021, as currently drafted. Even with the amendments introduced today, we are concerned the Bill will disrupt the student experience and threaten the autonomy and quality assurance of these important Northern institutions.
By establishing the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) and Université de Hearst (Hearst) as standalone institutions through regulation, rather than legislation, Bill 276 raises a number of critical issues that undermine the student experience, Northern autonomy and the financial sustainability of both the sector and Northern communities.
Today’s amendments, while taking some steps to provide more details on the Board and Senate in the Bill, fall far short of what is needed for these two intuitions to succeed.
In our submission to the Standing Committee on General Government last week, Ontario’s universities put forward a proposal that would help ensure:
- Students enrolled at NOSM and Hearst graduate with degrees that meet the same rigorous quality standards as all other Ontario universities and that their studies are not disrupted
- The North has the same autonomy as every other Ontario university – the autonomy it deserves and needs to remain competitive
- Maintaining connections with existing universities would reduce duplication of resources and infrastructure, as well as costs, supporting financial sustainability in Ontario’s North
Ontario’s universities remain committed to the success of our students, NOSM and Hearst. We are asking the government to not proclaim the Bill until meaningful consultations have been held with key stakeholders and to bring forward the necessary amendments later this year. This will help ensure these two important Northern institutions are given the proper foundation for their future success.”
– Steve Orsini, President and CEO, Council of Ontario Universities