Students, community groups protest program cuts at La Cité
Students, faculty, their unions and community organizations are protesting a move by Ottawa's La Cité, the largest French-language college in Ontario, to cut nine programs this fall.
Groups opposed to the cuts held a march and rally Thursday, ending in front of MP Marie-France Lalonde's office on Centrum Boulevard in Orléans. During the event, attendees placed candles near a Franco-Ontarian flag as a way to mourn the cuts.
Among the participants was 17-year-old Samuel Pilon, who was accepted into La Cité's television production program in January, but was told in April the program is being suspended.
"I had two options: go to Quebec or stay here in English. I chose to study at Algonquin College in English because for me, it's important to stay in my region. It's a good program, but it won't be the same. It won't be in my mother tongue," he told Radio-Canada.
"I speak English well, but that would mean giving up on what we fought for and saying that what is happening right now is acceptable," he added in French.
Patricia Dostie, executive director of l'Association pour l'intégration sociale d'Ottawa, said the majority of the association's employees graduated from two programs at the college that are designed to support people with disabilities. She said more than 25 agencies in Ottawa and the Outaouais, and their clients, also rely on those graduates.
"We represent thousands of people with intellectual disabilities who have no voice today," she told Radio-Canada. "Suddenly, employers were left behind ... forgotten. They weren't consulted."
Dostie said she hopes to meet with Lynn Casimiro, the college's president and CEO, to discuss possible solutions.
'Status quo is not an option'
The college announced its decision to cut the nine programs in May. As with other colleges that have made similar cuts, Casimiro cited decline in international student enrolment, a key source of revenue.
"The status quo is not an option. If the college does not take the measures we are taking now, there will be more cuts later," Casimiro told Radio-Canada.
Additionally, 50 positions including 16 teaching jobs and other unfilled positions, will be eliminated.
The programs being discontinued include:
Automotive maintenance technician.
Television production.
General arts and sciences program — university track.
Dental care (Levels I and II).
Occupational therapist assistant and physiotherapist assistant.
911 and emergency service dispatch.
Protection, security and investigation — safety.
Special education techniques.
Intervention with people with disabilities.
La Cité's faculty union, which is affiliated with the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), said it plans to file a complaint with the Ontario Labour Relations Board.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
National Post
20 minutes ago
- National Post
Anaergia S.r.l. Announces Agreement to Provide Infrastructure and Equipment for New Biomethane Plants in Spain
Article content TREVIGLIO, Italy & BURLINGTON, Ontario — Anaergia Inc. ('Anaergia', the 'Company', 'us', or 'our') (TSX:ANRG; OTCQX:ANRGF), through its subsidiary Anaergia S.r.l., has signed a Binding Agreement ('Agreement') with a leading Spanish company specializing in renewable gas infrastructure projects. Under the terms of the Agreement, Anaergia will provide a range of services as well as its cutting-edge technology and equipment for over 15 new biomethane production plants across Spain. Article content Article content Anaergia will be responsible for the supply and construction of concrete tanks with Triton™ digesters, a proprietary technology featuring a patented configuration that significantly enhances process efficiency. In addition, the company will supply advanced mixing systems, also part of its proprietary technology, along with other critical components to facilitate the seamless operations of the plants. Article content Anaergia is to commence activities on the first project this month, with all the projects in the development plan expected to be fully operational and integrated into Spain's gas pipeline network within forty-eight months. Anaergia anticipates total revenue of C$184 million from this Agreement, making it the Company's largest capital sale to date. Article content 'This agreement marks a significant milestone in advancing Spain's renewable energy sector, fostering economic growth and environmental sustainability. The scale of this historic Agreement for Anaergia highlights the advantages of our strategic focus on leveraging proprietary technologies for the benefit of our customers, and underscores our growing presence and activities in Europe,' said Assaf Onn, CEO of Anaergia. 'We are most excited about this opportunity to demonstrate the value of our innovative solutions and to support the global transition to renewable energy.' Article content About Anaergia Article content Anaergia is a pioneering technology company in the renewable natural gas (RNG) sector, with over 250 patents dedicated to converting organic waste into sustainable solutions such as RNG, fertilizer, and water. We are committed to addressing a significant source of greenhouse gases (GHGs) through cost-effective processes. Our proprietary technologies, combined with our engineering expertise and vast experience in facility design, construction, and operation, position Anaergia as a leader in the RNG industry. With a proven track record of delivering hundreds of innovative projects over the past decade, we are well-equipped to tackle today's critical resource recovery challenges through diverse project delivery methods. As one of the few companies worldwide offering an integrated portfolio of end-to-end solutions, we effectively combine solid waste processing, wastewater treatment, organics recovery, high-efficiency anaerobic digestion, and biomethane production. Additionally, we operate RNG facilities owned by both third parties and Anaergia. This comprehensive approach not only reduces environmental impact but also significantly lowers costs associated with waste and wastewater treatment while mitigating GHG emissions. Article content For further information please see: Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, which reflects Anaergia's current expectations regarding future events, including but not limited to, counterparty contractual performance, the capability of the Company's technology and performance with respect to the project objectives. Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions, including, but not limited to counterparty contractual performance, the full development, timing and funding of construction of the sixteen facilities, the capability of the Company's technology and performance with respect to the project objectives, the expected revenue from the agreement, and the sufficient sourcing of food waste and power generation. The Company is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the factors discussed under 'Risk Factors' in the Company's annual information form for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, and under 'Risks and Uncertainties' in the Company's most recent management's discussion and analysis. Actual results could differ materially from those projected herein. Anaergia does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required under applicable securities laws. Additional information on these and other factors that could affect Anaergia's operations or financial results are included in Anaergia's reports on file with Canadian regulatory authorities. Article content
National Post
20 minutes ago
- National Post
For Sale: Used U.S.-Canada border crossing going on auction block
The U.S. government is selling a former border crossing facility in Madawaska, Maine, across the Saint John River from Edmunston, N.B. Article content An online auction for the property starts on Wednesday, Aug. 20. The asking price is US$25,000. Article content Bidding for the old Port of Entry (POE) will increase in $1,000 increments, says the U.S. General Services Administration in a press release about the sale. (The GSA is the U.S. government's shared services arm, managing a real estate portfolio of over 360 million rentable square feet.) Article content While the commercial space listing has primarily been used as an office, the real estate ad suggests other potential purposes: manufacturing, warehouse, storage facility, garage/shop. Article content 'GSA is transforming an underutilized border facility into an opportunity for community and economic development,' said Public Buildings Service Regional Commissioner Glenn C. Rotondo in the release. Article content Article content The first floor of the building is 2,900 square feet. There is also a 2,900 square foot finished basement. Article content The southern portion of the property is flat, paved and has a one-storey brick building with two canopies, a guard shack and shed for a generator. Article content The northern half of the property is on a floodplain and can't be built upon. Instead, it consists of a steep, wooded slope leading from a retaining wall down approximately 50 feet to the water line of the Saint John River. The river surrounds the northern edge of the property. A paper mill with a rail line is situated on the other perimeters. Article content Article content The 1959 facility was closed last year when U.S. Customs and Border Protection ceased operations there and relocated to the new Madawaska POE and International Bridge. The new facility will include room for increases in traffic. The new facility, worth roughly $73 million, is also aiming to be include administrative offices and training space. Article content Parts of the old bridge were saved by the town, according to Maine newspaper The County. A local artist pitched a plan to create a 20-foot sculpture of an Acadian star out of materials from the bridge to celebrate the Francophone cultural connection shared by the two countries, across the old bridge created. Article content Acadians are descendants of French settlers who originally settled in Canada's Maritime Provinces in the 17th and 18th centuries. Aroostook County later became a hub of Acadian culture, with a large population still maintaining their heritage.
National Post
20 minutes ago
- National Post
Toronto teacher fired for wearing blackface to school should get his job back, arbitrator rules
An arbitrator has ordered that a white Toronto teacher who was terminated after he showed up at school in blackface for Halloween and told people he was dressed as a zombie should be reinstated and compensated for all wages and benefits lost in the last 20 months. Article content Gorian Surlan showed remorse for his actions, according to an arbitrator, who substituted a nearly two-year suspension for the high school teacher's penalty. Surlan, who had been teaching for 19 years, came to work at Parkdale Collegiate Institute in black face makeup and black clothing on Oct. 29, 2021. Article content Article content He wore the costume to an assembly that morning dubbed 'Where Everybody Belongs' that was attended by about 250 Grade 9 students and their mentors. Three students approached their vice-principal about Surlan's costume, saying he was in blackface. One student showed her a photo of his costume. Two of them were visibly upset and one was crying, Norm Jesin, the arbitrator, wrote in a decision dated Aug. 14. Article content 'He was asked if he was aware of the controversy over Justin Trudeau appearing as Aladdin in blackface. He said he was but that he was not trying to depict any person. Rather he was attempting to portray a zombie.' Article content Article content Article content Surlan, now 63, grieved his termination, arguing he 'was unjustly discharged from his employment on November 15, 2021, contrary to the collective agreement between' the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation and the Toronto District School Board. Article content Article content Born in Serbia, he witnessed many atrocities while working for the International Red Cross during the Bosnian war. Article content Those 'left a deep impact on him,' said the arbitrator. Article content 'He became a member of the Ontario College of Teachers and obtained qualifications in a number of disciplines including business studies, special education, librarianship, cooperative education and English as a second language,' Jesin said. Article content He took sabbaticals every five years, teaching in Nigeria and Vietnam, and had no previous discipline record before the blackface incident, said the arbitrator.
