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
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.