McGill unions say university is threatening free speech over pro-Palestinian support
Four unions at McGill University say the school is attacking free speech by threatening to suspend funding for a student organization because of its support for a pro-Palestinian group.
McGill sent a notice of default earlier this year to a social-justice student group, demanding it stop supporting Students for Palestine's Honour and Resistance.
The pro-Palestinian organization was one of the groups that started a months-long encampment on the university's downtown campus last year.
The unions, representing some McGill professors, staff and teaching assistants, say the university is intimidating and threatening to dismantle the social-justice group.
McGill also announced this spring it was moving to cut ties with the university's student union for similar reasons.
That decision followed a three-day student strike over McGill's investments in companies linked to military action in Gaza, which led to dozens of classes being blocked or interrupted.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 8, 2025.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
20 minutes ago
- CTV News
United Nations calls Israel's plan to take control of Gaza City 'deeply alarming'
Watch Israel is moving forward with its plan to take control of Gaza despite criticism by the United Nations. CTV's Mike Le Couteur has the latest.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Air Canada flight attendants at the bargaining table
Vancouver Watch Flight attendants at Air Canada are advocating for better rights and could walk off the job next week if an agreement isn't reached.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Island Lake First Nations demand fire prevention overhaul
First Nations leaders are speaking out and calling for a comprehensive plan to address wildfires and evacuations. CTV's Harrison Shin reports. The Chiefs of the Island Lake First Nations are demanding solutions from the perspective of fire prevention, not reactiveness. On Friday, leadership members of the Island Lake First Nations held a press conference in Winnipeg, demanding five solutions. 'This is not an emergency system; this is a cycle of failure. Our Chiefs and Anisininew Nations are saying to Canada, 'The cycle ends now,'' Grand Chief Alex McDougall of Anisininew Okimawin said. 'Leaders called for a national Indigenous fire strategy because of chronic lack of firefighting, fire prevention and emergency services in First Nations was a recipe for disaster,' McDougall added. In a media release, the Anisininew Okimawin leadership is demanding five action items, addressing future-proof measures and the current wildfire situation. 'We don't need to fund more evacuations—we need fund on staying home,' Chief Raymond Flett of St. Theresa Point Anisininew Nation said. Six leaders of the First Nations drew their statements based on a 2022 Auditor General of Canada report. '$646 million in response, and $182 million on prevention. That's unacceptable—this should be the other way around,' Chief Willie Moore of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs said. The Canadian Red Cross said the organization is working extremely hard to provide support, in an email statement. 'As of August 6, the Red Cross has registered more than 31,000 people from more than 12,000 households evacuated due to wildfires in Manitoba. This includes people from more than 7,000 households on behalf of Indigenous Services Canada, and more than 5,000 households on behalf of the Province of Manitoba. 'This is a fast-moving and evolving response and the Red Cross is working with community leadership, the Government of Manitoba and Indigenous Services Canada to provide support to people impacted, as requested and directed by the community,' the statement said. Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) said the department operates multiple programs to support First Nations, in an email response. 'Since April 1st, 2025, ISC has also provided $58.9 million in advance payments to support immediate response to First Nations in Manitoba experiencing displacements due to wildland fires. 'We are actively engaging with First Nations and Manitoba to discuss improvements based on lessons learned from the current wildfire season, particularly through the development of multilateral emergency management service agreements that include First Nations as full and equal partners in governance, planning, and delivery.' The federal department said it's open to working closely on long-term plans with communities and provincial governments that wish to build all-season roads. 'While the building and maintaining of permanent off-reserve roads falls under provincial jurisdiction, ISC will continue to engage the provinces and impacted First Nations on longer-term transportation plans.' For the First Nations affected, they said their future is at stake. 'We can't live like this for another 60—maybe 50—years,' Chief Walter Harper of Wasagamack Anisininew Nation said.
