Human Resources Development Canada recently announced changes to its policies regarding academic appointments.

In a letter to CAUT, HRDC deputy minister Claire Morris advised that universities and university colleges will be allowed to advertise all positions simultaneously in Canada and abroad.

"However," she added, "Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are found qualified are to be offered the position before it can be offered to a foreign candidate."

The federal government will require universities to advertise in ways that assure broad exposure to Canadians and permanent residents who may be potential candidates, and that all positions advertised abroad also be advertised in Canada.

Universities will also continue to be required to provide detailed recruitment and selection information to HRDC when requesting an employment validation for an academic position being offered to a foreign candidate.

CAUT president Tom Booth congratulated the government for its policy that maintains a recognition of Canadians and permanent residents while being responsive to concerns university administrators voiced about the former requirement that prevented advertising for foreign candidates until after completion of a search for Canadians and permanent residents.

Booth did express concern about the government's failure to assure there would be detailed reporting and accountability to each university's senior academic body. He says CAUT has asked the government to reconsider this aspect of their policy.

"That said," he noted, "we do feel the government has taken a positive position on the overall matter."