Faculty question expenditures on paid lobbyists by Ontario universities

TORONTO, Oct 5 /CNW/ - Ontario faculty and academic librarians are concerned that the use of paid lobbyists by the province's universities may be diverting needed resources from quality education, according to the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA). Data obtained through a freedom of information request by the NDP reveals that just six of Ontario's 20 universities have spent nearly $1 million on lobbying firms.

"With the university system chronically short of funding, I find it surprising that six of Ontario's universities - and these are only the ones we know about - are spending nearly a million dollars on lobbyists," said Mark Langer, President of OCUFA. "Why are these institutions pleading poverty at faculty bargaining tables and not addressing the needs of students when they seemingly have cash to spare for big lobbying companies?"

The NDP figures show that six universities - OCAD, York, Laurentian, Wilfrid Laurier, UOIT and Lakehead - together spent $846,500 on lobbyists. This comes at a time when Ontario has the worst student-to-faculty ratio and the highest undergraduate tuition fees in Canada.

"We are grateful to Ontario's NDP for bringing this to our attention," said Langer. "Ontario's economic success and social vitality depend on a high quality university system, which in turn requires the right number of faculty, up-to-date facilities and affordable fees. With that in mind, perhaps our institutions should examine their financial priorities, particularly when spending the public's money."

Founded in 1964, OCUFA represents over 16,000 faculty and academic librarians in 26 faculty associations across Ontario. For more information, please visit the OCUFA website at http://www.ocufa.on.ca.

For further information:

Graeme Stewart - 416 306 6033 (office) or 647 280 3175 (mobile)
[email protected]