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“Algonquin College needs to get out of Saudi Arabia, and the Liberals need to give colleges the means to do their job: providing the education that will bring jobs and prosperity to the province.” — Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President
Toronto (05 Jan. 2016) — Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) has again questioned Algonquin College’s presence in Saudi Arabia in the wake of the kingdom’s execution of 47 prisoners on January 2 that included a cleric who led protests against government human rights violations.
Ontarians will not tolerate government doing business with human rights abusers
“Last March 12, I wrote Premier Wynne for answers on why Algonquin College was using scarce taxpayer dollars to establish a campus for the wealthy in Saudi Arabia,“ said Thomas. “The Premier chose not to respond."
“This time, Kathleen Wynne can’t hide behind a wall of silence. The mass execution itself cries out for an unequivocal response. At least one man was executed for peacefully protesting Saudi Arabia’s contempt for basic human rights.
“The people of Ontario will not tolerate their provincial government’s doing business with a notorious violator of human rights.”
Colleges driven to find alternative funding as a result of chronic underfunding by government
Jack Wilson, Vice-President of OPSEU Local 415 and a professor at Algonquin, said the college’s presence in Saudi Arabia is completely unacceptable, but he also called out the government for its role. “Chronic underfunding is driving colleges to find other funding sources. They face significant pressures from increasing enrolment and a rapidly evolving economy, but the government basically ignores them.”
Thomas said Ontario’s colleges should not be faced with a sink-or-swim scenario. “They’re a major driver of the economy. They offer the specialized skills that today’s employers seek, and encourage new investment in the province.
“Algonquin College needs to get out of Saudi Arabia, and the Liberals need to give colleges the means to do their job: providing the education that will bring jobs and prosperity to the province.”
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 360,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE