CAUT has set up an ad hoc investigatory committee to examine the termination of Dr. Laurent Leduc's participation in a continuing education program on corporate social responsibility, which he helped establish at St. Michael's College at the University of Toronto.

The issue came to CAUT's attention in 2003 after non-smoking rights groups protested the college's acceptance of a $150,000 donation from Imperial Tobacco for the program. Leduc alleged his course material, based on a case study of a tobacco donation to a British university, was rejected after the donation from Imperial Tobacco was received and that his relationship with the program was subsequently ended.

Investigatory committee members are Dr. Esam Hussein, professor and chair of mechanical engineering at the University of New Brunswick and Dr. Robert MacDermid, associate professor of political science at York University.

The committee is being asked to investigate the actions of the college in relation to its corporate social responsibility program and the role of Leduc within it; to determine whether there were breaches of or threats to academic freedom; and to make any appropriate recommendations.