The chairman of the committee of experts looking at academic freedom, former minister Alexandre Cloutier, is calling on the Legault government to amend its bill 32.
During his visit to the National Assembly at the end of the day on Tuesday, Mr. Cloutier noticed some discrepancies between the report he submitted to the government and the bill 32 that should result from it.
The first recommendation we would like to make to you is to use the definition of academic freedom as proposed in the report. Actually […] which will solve many issuesdid he declare.
Alexandre Cloutier also called for an amendment to section 4, so that the government would create a committee and not a advice to act in relation to issues of academic freedom, but only in case of dispute.
We did not suggest in our report that the sanction committeehe said for the benefit of the Minister of Higher Education, Danielle McCann, who said he was receiving very positive all his comments.
Finally, Mr. Cloutier recommended amending section 6, which gives the minister the right to order an establishment […] to guess […] any element it implies or of make the necessary corrections.
You should take inspiration from the Sexual Violence Act, which usually allows the government to intervene in case there is a violation of the law.suggested by Mr. Cloutier.
” It’s pretty normal for the government to want to make sure the law is respected, but at the same time, we need to make sure it’s not too intrusive on the concept of university autonomy. “
“Quasi-guardianship”
This article 6 which gives superpowers to the minister is united against him, which was observed during the consultations of the liberal Hélène David.
A like trusteeshipcommented earlier on Jean Portuguese, of the Quebec Federation of University Professors (FQPPU).
Give such powers to the Minister contrary to the very principles of academic freedomsupported in its brief the National Federation of Quebec Teachers (FNEEQ).
yun opens a distressing door to state interference in university policiesadded the union, saying it wanted legislative intervention minimal and limited.
He wanted the Minister to issue only the general conditions outlining the duties and obligations of the establishments. The bill could also be applied to public and private colleges, he said.
The Quebec Student Union (UEQ)-which represents approximately 91,000 university students-has spoken out directly against enacting a law.
L ‘UEQ Considering that the government should not enact legislation on academic freedom in universitiesdecided its interim president, Jonathan Desroches.
He believes the government should encourage universities to develop statements of principle so that they can maintain their autonomy.
McCann showed ‘openness’
In her opening remarks, Minister of Higher Education Danielle McCann promised listening of different groups.
” I am in the mode of openness and collaboration. If the bill needs to be improved, we will certainly do so. “
But on the principle of protecting academic freedom and ending self-censorship, we stand by: no compromise.he added.
Mr. Cloutier recalled that his work showed that 60% of faculty members, and 28% of students, had already censored themselves by avoiding the use of certain words. .
The one who is now vice-rector at the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi reiterated the importance of legislation, to provide uniform protection for all establishments in Quebec.
The Cloutier commission was set up by the government in August 2021, following several incidents that took place in the academy and were reported in the news.
A teacher at the University of Ottawa has been suspended for a complaint over the use of a word beginning with the letter “n”.
Special consultations on Bill 32 continue Wednesday with the Interuniversity Cooperation Office.
Source: Radio-Canada
