AASUA

Dear colleagues, 

I am writing to inform you that academic staff unions across the country have today taken a unanimous stand to condemn Bill 18, the proposed “Provincial Priorities Act.” 

Our own Vice-President, Kristine Smitka, addressed the room in support of a motion speaking out against the bill at the Canadian Association of University Teachers’ (CAUT) Council in Ottawa. Council is the biannual gathering of academic staff association representatives from across the country. You can find a list of CAUT's member associations here. 

The motion was put forward by Alberta academic staff associations, including AASUA, and reads as follows: 

“Whereas the Government of Alberta Bill 18 proposes requiring provincial government approval before public institutions can accept federal funding in order to ensure the funding request aligns with 'provincial priorities';

And whereas the Government of Alberta has specifically identified postsecondary institutions as a class of entities to whom Bill 18 applies;

And whereas this interference can fall particularly heavy on researchers from historically excluded communities,

And whereas government-imposed ideological tests are antithetical to the ethical practice of research;

Be it RESOLVED THAT

CAUT condemns Alberta's proposed Bill 18 'the Provincial Priorities Act,' as a dangerous attack on university autonomy, academic freedom, and the ethical practice of research.”

The unanimous approval of this motion represents the collective concern of academics throughout Canada regarding this reckless legislation proposal from the Government of Alberta. Research must not be politicized; to attempt to align research priorities with the whims of the government of the day violates academic freedom and the principles of institutional autonomy that are essential to our work as academics. 

You can watch Kristine speak in full here. 

Sincerely, 

Gordon Swaters
AASUA President