... On behalf of the members of the University of Calgary Faculty Association, I wish to express our deep concern over your government's refusal to protect academic freedom and free speech for instructors and researchers at the new Technical University of British Columbia. Your government's refusal to establish an academic senate or provisions for tenure at the Technical University has a chilling effect on scholarly activity, not just at this university or in British Columbia, but throughout Canada. That a New Democratic government has taken such an oppressive, precedent setting move is especially troubling. Unless the situation with regard to the Technical University changes within the next few weeks, we have no choice but to advise our members and graduate students at the University of Calgary to boycott this University. We feel we have a duty to advise all current and future academics of these policies which are likely to harm their ability to teach and conduct research without inappropriate intervention. These are policies which could easily hinder their academic careers and should be avoided by young scholars at all costs. On behalf of the 1,400 academic staff members at the University of Calgary, we urge you to immediately reconsider your decision and protect academic freedom in BC ... M. Anne Stalker, President, The University of Calgary Faculty Association

... The legislation that established the Technical University of British Columbia contains provisions that profoundly compromise accepted principles of academic freedom. On behalf of the McMaster University Faculty Association and with the unanimous endorsement of its Executive, I am writing to express our disapproval of the legislation, and to urge that you and your government colleagues immediately take steps to eliminate the objectionable provisions ... Catherine Beattie, President, McMaster University Faculty Association

... As a citizen and an academic I am alarmed beyond measure by the proposals for the Technical University of British Columbia. The concepts of tenure and academic senate in my opinion, are inseparable from academic freedom and the right to free speech and inquiry. It is a matter of deep regret and serious concern that an NDP government would be the first in the land to do away with both. Closely linked to these are also the questions of faculty control over curriculum development and the right to do research in the areas of one's choice. I therefore request you to radically reconsider the proposed Technical University of British Columbia and its mandate and administration ... Sam Sankaran, Chair, University of Regina Faculty Association

... As presently constituted, the institution will not, remotely, be a university ... John C. Bear, President, Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty Association

... While we are happy to have a sister institution devoted to science and engineering, we strongly believe that the lack of effective academic governance and tenure constitute a threat to academic freedom and free speech and is unprecedented in Canada. We also believe that our colleagues deserve the same standards of collegiality as exist elsewhere and fail to understand why they should not be so accorded simply on the basis of the focus of the university being on science and engineering ... E. P. Fitzgerald, President, Carleton University Academic Staff Association

... Academic freedom and tenure are as essential for the critical work of academic staff in applied sciences as they are in other fields. In order for university researchers and teachers to do meaningful research, to discuss freely new ideas and to examine and critique existing thinking, these staff must be able to work without institutional censure or political interference. World class technical universities -- world class universities of all types -- ensure these provisions in order to attract and retain the highest quality staff. Without explicit provisions which acknowledge these needs and provide these guarantees, your teachers and researchers will be relegated to the role of technicians ... Michael R. Thomas, President, University of Manitoba Faculty Association