Calls for legislation preventing another Laurentian debacle
Laurentian University is officially out of creditor protection as of Monday, two days ahead of the deadline it was facing. Now, calls are resuming for a change to legislation so this precedent can never happen again.
The Canadian Association of University Teachers said there needs to be more accountability for what has happened and has called on the federal liberal government to remove publicly-funded post-secondary education institutions from the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA).
"We need commitment from the government to say we will sponsor legislation to deal with these issues so that no other university or college in the country will have to go through this process again," CAUT executive director David Robinson said.
"I want to be able to table that legislation in the House of Commons and in effect what it would do is would not allow any post-secondary institution to be able to access and use the CCAA," Sudbury MP Viviane Lapointe said.
The school's faculty association also said there is still work that needs to be done.
"Now that we are no longer constrained by the limitations of the CCAA, we will use the tools at our disposal to ensure that the new administration implements the improvements we’ve called for," said Fabrice Colin, the president of the Laurentian University Faculty Association.
In the auditor general of Ontario’s special report on Laurentian university, it details years of financial mismanagement and what was called an unnecessary decision to file for insolvency protection.
"Reforming our governance, improving operations and heeding the recommendations of the auditor general will keep us on track but, most importantly, we must be committed to respecting all of the university’s stakeholders as key decisions about the future are made," said Jeff Bangs, the LU board chair.
"We are committed to rebuilding pride in LU and regaining the confidence of our many stakeholders and the Greater Sudbury community. We’ll do this through our actions in the months and years ahead as we form our strategic plan and continue organizational transformation," Laurentian University's interim president, Tammy Eger, said.
It was the first time a public institution in Canada declared a form of bankruptcy, a move normally only used by private companies. More than 60 programs were cut at the school and 150 jobs were lost in the process.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.