Colleges, universities must put free speech policy in place
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Encouraging respect for different views is behind an Ontario government’s requirement that every college and university have a free speech policy in place in the new year, Training, Colleges and Universities Minister Merrilee Fullerton says.
“If we want a civil and tolerant society then we must be able to have respectful debate, open dialogue and consider the views of others,” Fullerton said.
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Universities in Ontario and elsewhere are grappling with the right to free speech and students’ right to a “safe” environment.
The Doug Ford government promised during the spring election campaign that it would strip provincial funding from any post-secondary institutions that did not adopt a free speech policy.
Why would post-secondary institutions need guidance on free speech?
“We want to create some clarity and some certainty around expectations. We heard during the campaign as well as after the campaign concerns from students across Ontario regarding the issue of free speech on campus.”
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Are colleges and universities complying?
“I have every indication that the colleges have created their policy, that will be available Jan. 1, 2019 as we’ve required. And I have no reason to believe that the universities won’t comply.”
Are you confident this legislation prevent another case like that of Lindsay Shepherd, a Wilfrid Laurier University teaching assistant punished for airing a TV Ontario (TVO) program featuring Professor Jordan Peterson?
“I can’t comment specifically in that situation, but I can also say that we are looking to make sure that there are free speech and free debate, the ability to discuss and have dialogue in a respectful way. That needs to be maintained and improved on campus.”
Your Ministry stated that post-secondary institutions are not supposed to shield students from ideas that they may dislike or find offensive. Why was it important to you to say that?
“Because if we respect different view, then we must demonstrate that respect. And the laws of the land are fairly clear on hate speech. We want to make sure that the laws of the land are upheld. Hate speech will not be tolerated. This is not a mechanism to promote hate speech. This is a mechanism to make sure that there is respectful dialogue, that there is open debate on campus and that students feel safe and secure in order to engage in that.”
How do you draw the line between hate speech and controversial or even offensive speech?
“The policy that the institutions will be required to put forward must meet a minimum standard. And that minimum standard requires that students have the ability to speak about different ideas, to have open debate and respectfully. So each institution will be required to assess what it needs to allow for that.”
What about the potential conflict between human rights and having a fulsome debate around, say, gender issues?
“The laws of the land must be abided and so this is up to each institution to assess its own policy that it will post on Jan. 1, 2019 online that will be consistent with the minimum standard required. This is something that each institution will have to assess… We will not tolerate hate speech. We will not tolerate discrimination or violence which is why we need to set the expectations and provide clarity so that all students on campus understand what is required.”
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