The cancellation of about 58 different programs at Laurentian University in Sudbury is affecting education for a number of students from small communities across the North Shore, including Blind River.
Laurentian has been under creditor protection since Feb. 1. The school's president, Robert Hache, has said the institution became insolvent after a decade of financial strain from a variety of issues such as the region's declining population. An Ontario court has extended an order allowing Laurentian University to continue to operate while protected from its creditors. A stay of legal proceedings against the university set to expire Sunday evening has been prolonged to Aug. 31 as the school undergoes restructuring, it was reported by the Canadian Press.
The issue was brought to the attention of Blind River council at its virtual meeting Monday evening, following a letter from local midwifery student, Hayley Horton, who was requesting council solidarity.
“As I'm sure you are aware, Laurentian University has suddenly terminated 58 plus programs. These are programs that many of our children and community members are a part of or are alumnus,” Horton said in her letter. “Laurentian is unique in the sense that they offer French, Indigenous, northern, and rural specific programs.
“Losing these programs is a tremendous loss for Sudbury – but moreover, for our small nearby communities. We know that having schools closer to home increases the likelihood that people will return here to work," she said. "It is absolutely vital to the growth of Blind River. We have to grow our own.
"I am a fourth-year midwifery student. I plan to come back to Blind River upon my graduation and work for North Channel Midwifery with Tammy Roberts. I even secured my final placement with the practice which was set to start May 3. However, as of Monday the School of Midwifery was one of the programs terminated and my ability to pursue my placement and more importantly, graduate, is uncertain.”
Horton said the cancellation, done with the cooperation of the Ontario government as part of the university financial restructuring, has left students without other options. She noted the university stated it was cancelling the program due to low enrolment and despite having 300 applicants last year with 30 students accepted.
“Our school is run by 18 women and is ‘envelope funded’, meaning that the Ontario government funds our program completely. We do not cost the university anything. In fact, we are profitable for them. We were also the only health program terminated. The only reasonable explanation I can make of this is misogyny and a political move against the profession.”
She has sent a similar letter to Algoma-Manitoulin NDP MPP Michael Mantha.
Blind River councillor Jennifer Posteraro, who is a local secondary school teacher and teacher federation representative, supported the motion of solidarity and that the province and university reconsider the decision to cancel the programs and reinstate them.
“What happened at Laurentian University was devastating and there are members of our community who are directly impacted,” Coun. Posteraro said. “I know my neighbour is now forced to live without her children because she is now forced to go to Ryerson instead of Laurentian because her midwifery program was taken.”
“It needs to be said that what happened there should have been avoided and it is devastating not only for students, the professors but also the communities that thrive from Laurentian and the federated universities.”
The motion was unanimously approved by council.