Ontario universities, colleges look to Laurier for help with freedom of expression policies

Administration at Wilfrid Laurier University has received "numerous requests" from other universities and colleges about how they came up with their statement on freedom of expression.

It comes as Premier Doug Ford announced Thursday he wants all Ontario university and colleges to develop and implement free speech policies by January 1. If they don't, offending institutions could face funding cuts.

Laurier approved its statement on freedom of expression earlier this year. It was developed after the school was embroiled in a free speech controversy in the 2017 fall semester.

That's when teaching assistant Lindsay Shepherd was sanctioned for showing a contentious video in class.

• Teaching assistant who was sanctioned questions sincerity of Wilfrid Laurier University's apology
• Laurier won't censor speech, says draft statement on free expression

The professor and university president apologized.

In June, Shepherd launched a $3.6 million lawsuit against Laurier.

'Happy to share our learnings'

At the end of July, Laurier vice-chancellor and president Deborah MacLatchy wrote an op-ed in The Globe and Mail saying post-secondary institutions need to protect free speech while also fostering an academic environment where people feel comfortable to exchange ideas.

• Wilfrid Laurier University president says universities need to protect 'better' speech

"We really have a role in providing opportunities for individuals to have deep conversations," she told CBC Kitchener-Waterloo. "Especially when there are differences in positions [and] viewpoints."

Robert Gordon, Laurier's vice-president academic and provost, and the chair of the university's freedom of expression task force, said in a release on Thursday that the school has a "deep commitment to free speech."

• Ontario university won't stop talk by anti-immigration speaker Faith Goldy

"We would be happy to share our learnings with the Ontario government and other universities as we all work toward improving our understanding of free speech and the best ways to protect and foster it on university campuses," Gordon said.