Latest news with #CanadianAssociationofUniversityTeachers
CBC
05-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Academic leaders condemn Nova Scotia bill as threat to university autonomy
New legislation affecting post-secondary institutions in Nova Scotia drew the ire of members of the Canadian Association of University Teachers at a meeting this weekend in Ottawa. An Act Respecting Advanced Education and Research received royal assent on March 26. The bill came after a report from the auditor general called for more transparency and accountability at universities. A news release from the province said it was designed to "strengthen post-secondary institution financial accountability, sustainability and alignment with government priorities." The legislation allows the province to restructure universities, appoint up to 50 per cent of their boards, and align academic research with government priorities. Delegates at the meeting in Ottawa voted unanimously to condemn the bill, citing concerns that the legislation could serve as a model for similar efforts in other provinces. Peter McInnis, the association's president, said from Ottawa that condemnation of the bill was an unusual step for the association, but not without precedent. He called it a rehash of a bill from 2015, but considers it more dangerous because it no longer requires universities to be in crisis before government intervention. "There was no obvious need for this," McInnis said. He said members of the association see the new bill as an encroachment on academic freedom. He said the association will be looking at legal options and charter implications, but understands those avenues could take years. Cathy Conrad is president of the Saint Mary's University Faculty Union, which proposed the motion. She said requiring more transparency and accountability from universities is a good aspect of the legislation. But other elements that have nothing to do with the auditor general's report have been introduced, she said. "They were able to then cloak, under the guise of being more fiscally responsible and transparent, the sorts of things like attaching their operating grants to government priorities," Conrad said. "There's no room for politicians to be dictating what the population should be receiving in terms of their education." Conrad emphasized that universities are already publicly accountable, governed by boards with representatives from various sectors, including government. CBC has asked the province for a response to the vote.
Arab News
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Canadian university teachers warned against traveling to the United States
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia: The association that represents academic staff at Canadian universities is warning its members against non-essential travel to the United States. The Canadian Association of University Teachers released updated travel advice Tuesday due to the 'political landscape' created by President Donald Trump's administration and reports of some Canadians encountering difficulties crossing the border. The association says academics who are from countries that have tense diplomatic relations with the United States, or who have themselves expressed negative views about the Trump administration, should be particularly cautious about US travel. Its warning is particularly targeted to academics who identify as transgender or 'whose research could be seen as being at odds with the position of the current US administration.' In addition, the association says academics should carefully consider what information they have, or need to have, on their electronic devices when crossing the border, and take actions to protect sensitive information. Reports of foreigners being sent to detention or processing centers for more than seven days, including Canadian Jasmine Mooney, a pair of German tourists, and a backpacker from Wales, have been making headlines since Trump took office in January. The Canadian government recently updated its US travel advisory, warning residents they may face scrutiny from border guards and the possibility of detention if denied entry. Crossings from Canada into the United States dropped by about 32 percent, or by 864,000 travelers, in March compared to the same month a year ago, according to data from US Customs and Border Protection. Many Canadians are furious about Trump's annexation threats and trade war but also worried about entering the US David Robinson, executive director of the university teachers association, said that the warning is the first time his group has advised against non-essential US travel in the 11 years he's worked with them. 'It's clear there's been heightened scrutiny of people entering the United States, and … a heightened kind of political screening of people entering the country,' said Robinson, whose association represents 70,000 teachers, librarians, researchers, general staff and other academic professionals at 122 universities and colleges. Robinson said the group made the decision after taking legal advice in recent weeks. He said lawyers told them that US border searches can compromise confidential information obtained by academics during their research. He said the association will keep the warning in place until it sees 'the end of political screening, and there is more respect for confidential information on electronic devices.'
The Hill
16-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Canadian university teachers warned against traveling to the United States
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (AP) — The association that represents academic staff at Canadian universities is warning its members against non-essential travel to the United States. The Canadian Association of University Teachers released updated travel advice Tuesday due to the 'political landscape' created by President Donald Trump's administration and reports of some Canadians encountering difficulties crossing the border. The association says academics who are from countries that have tense diplomatic relations with the United States, or who have themselves expressed negative views about the Trump administration, should be particularly cautious about U.S. travel. Its warning is particularly targeted to academics who identify as transgender or 'whose research could be seen as being at odds with the position of the current U.S. administration.' In addition, the association says academics should carefully consider what information they have, or need to have, on their electronic devices when crossing the border, and take actions to protect sensitive information. Reports of foreigners being sent to detention or processing centers for more than seven days, including Canadian Jasmine Mooney, a pair of German tourists, and a backpacker from Wales, have been making headlines since Trump took office in January. The Canadian government recently updated its U.S. travel advisory, warning residents they may face scrutiny from border guards and the possibility of detention if denied entry. Crossings from Canada into the United States dropped by about 32%, or by 864,000 travelers, in March compared to the same month a year ago, according to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Many Canadians are furious about Trump's annexation threats and trade war but also worried about entering the U.S. David Robinson, executive director of the university teachers association, said that the warning is the first time his group has advised against non-essential U.S. travel in the 11 years he's worked with them. 'It's clear there's been heightened scrutiny of people entering the United States, and … a heightened kind of political screening of people entering the country,' said Robinson, whose association represents 70,000 teachers, librarians, researchers, general staff and other academic professionals at 122 universities and colleges. Robinson said the group made the decision after taking legal advice in recent weeks. He said lawyers told them that U.S. border searches can compromise confidential information obtained by academics during their research. He said the association will keep the warning in place until it sees 'the end of political screening, and there is more respect for confidential information on electronic devices.'
Associated Press
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Canadian university teachers warned against traveling to the United States
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (AP) — The association that represents academic staff at Canadian universities is warning its members against non-essential travel to the United States. The Canadian Association of University Teachers released updated travel advice Tuesday due to the 'political landscape' created by President Donald Trump's administration and reports of some Canadians encountering difficulties crossing the border. The association says academics who are from countries that have tense diplomatic relations with the United States, or who have themselves expressed negative views about the Trump administration, should be particularly cautious about U.S. travel. Its warning is particularly targeted to academics who identify as transgender or 'whose research could be seen as being at odds with the position of the current U.S. administration.' In addition, the association says academics should carefully consider what information they have, or need to have, on their electronic devices when crossing the border, and take actions to protect sensitive information. Reports of foreigners being sent to detention or processing centers for more than seven days, including Canadian Jasmine Mooney, a pair of German tourists, and a backpacker from Wales, have been making headlines since Trump took office in January. The Canadian government recently updated its U.S. travel advisory, warning residents they may face scrutiny from border guards and the possibility of detention if denied entry. Crossings from Canada into the United States dropped by about 32%, or by 864,000 travelers, in March compared to the same month a year ago, according to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Many Canadians are furious about Trump's annexation threats and trade war but also worried about entering the U.S. David Robinson, executive director of the university teachers association, said that the warning is the first time his group has advised against non-essential U.S. travel in the 11 years he's worked with them. 'It's clear there's been heightened scrutiny of people entering the United States, and … a heightened kind of political screening of people entering the country,' said Robinson, whose association represents 70,000 teachers, librarians, researchers, general staff and other academic professionals at 122 universities and colleges. Robinson said the group made the decision after taking legal advice in recent weeks. He said lawyers told them that U.S. border searches can compromise confidential information obtained by academics during their research. He said the association will keep the warning in place until it sees 'the end of political screening, and there is more respect for confidential information on electronic devices.'
Politico
15-04-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Canada professors association tells academics to stay away from US
A major Canadian professors association is urging academics to limit their travel to the United States. The Canadian Association of University Teachers, which boasts a membership of 72,000 staff at 125 universities across Canada, recommended in an advisory published Tuesday that 'academic staff travel to the U.S. only if essential and necessary.' The announcement comes as President Donald Trump continues to target higher education institutions and international students, while antagonizing Canada with ever-changing tariffs and barbs about its sovereignty, saying the country should instead become the 51st state. Travelers who identify as transgender or are citizens of countries at diplomatic odds with the U.S., the organization wrote, are among those who should take particular caution. 'Travellers leaving or returning to Canada, particularly those traveling to the U.S., are increasingly vulnerable to preclearance zones and border searches that may compromise research confidentiality and academic freedom,' the association said in a supplement to its advisory. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. On Tuesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president still 'believes that Canadians would benefit greatly from becoming the 51st state of the United States of America.' The White House has spent months arresting and revoking visas for international students it alleges are sympathetic to Hamas. On Monday, authorities detained a co-founder of Columbia University's Palestinian Student Union at what he thought was a naturalization appointment. And an immigration judge last week ruled that Mahmoud Khalil, a permanent resident with a green card who represented student protesters at Columbia's 'Gaza Solidarity Encampment' last spring, could be deported as a national security risk . The White House has also paused federal funding to several elite universities and launched investigations into dozens more in an effort administration officials say is meant to crack down on antisemitism and rein in diversity initiatives. Canadians in general are freezing travel to the U.S., and tourism from Canada to the United States is expected to take a hit . 'Academics should carefully consider what information they have, or need to have, on their electronic devices when crossing borders and take actions to protect sensitive information where necessary,' the association wrote.
