Local leaders joined North Bay & District Labour Council President Henri Giroux on Monday afternoon in a joint press conference calling for provincial government support for Laurentian University.
“This government has a reputation for bulldozing through with unconstitutional decision making with little to no public consultation,” said Giroux.
See: Sudbury needs to ‘fight like hell’ for Laurentian
And: 'I feel betrayed'
Rob Breton, the Vice President of the Nipissing University Faculty Association says he wants to ensure that northern post-secondary students have access “to the same kind of education as their counterparts in the south” and called the government lack of action “a betrayal of the north and a clear sign that we need new representation.”
Registered Midwife and alumna of the recently cut Midwifery Education Program, Emily Chartrand-Hudson noted that the cuts and process will “disproportionately affect students who want to be in the north.” She also spoke to the already limited options for midwifery education programs in Ontario with remaining programs only existing in southern Ontario.
As one of few practicing midwives in the North Bay area, she stated she would not have entered into the field if those were her only options.
Erika Lougheed, Ontario NDP candidate for Nipissing stated, “Ford and this conservative government willingly stood by while Laurentian University, an important part of northern Ontario’s economy and development collapsed. Laurentian plays a critical role in our region’s future workforce by keeping people trained and employed in northern Ontario communities.”
Laurentian has filed for protection from its creditors under the Companies' Creditor Arrangement Act (CCAA).
The Labour Council group is calling for the end to the CCAA process and on northern PC MPPs to speak up "to defend northern Ontario and Laurentian University."
