Academic freedom on the ballot in this federal election

Hello, everyone Please forgive my bringing up politics (and for crossposting), but academic freedom is on the ballot in this federal election. Poilievre's platform includes a promise to end federal funding for "woke" research, but of course the term "woke" can be wielded against any research that does not align with a particular ideology. This threat puts Canadian research and the research community at risk. This is from a statement from the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT): "CAUT alarmed by Conservative Party platform on research funding" <https://www.caut.ca/latest/2025/03/caut-alarmed-conservative-party-platform-research-funding>: “Our institutions and the federal government need to push back in the strongest possible way against this blatant attempt to interfere in academic research and trample upon academic freedom,” said CAUT executive director David Robinson. “The integrity and independence of research is necessary to protect the public interest. We need to make it clear that there is no room for political interference in research in Canada.” We are seeing the consequences of this type of ideologically motivated policy playing out in the US. No matter what party you support, we as a research community need to stand up to this threat. For more information: CBC: "Conservatives update platform to include omitted 'anti-woke' promise" <https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/conservative-woke-platform-oversight-1.7516315> Science: "In Canadian election, top Conservative candidate vows to end 'woke ideology' in science funding" <https://www.science.org/content/article/canadian-election-top-conservative-candidate-vows-end-woke-ideology-science-funding> CTV News: "Pierre Poilievre says he'll end 'woke ideology' -- he isn't saying what that means" <https://www.ctvnews.ca/federal-election-2025/article/pierre-poilievre-says-hell-end-woke-ideology-he-isnt-saying-what-that-means/> Montreal Gazette: "'Woke ideology': Quebec professors denounce Poilievre's pledge to end certain university research funding" <https://www.montrealgazette.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/article850096.html> CP: "Pierre Poilievre says he'll end 'woke ideology'--he isn't saying what that means" <https://www.msn.com/en-ca/politics/government/pierre-poilievre-says-he-ll-end-woke-ideology-he-isn-t-saying-what-that-means/ar-AA1Dn53S>
participants (1)
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Caroline Winter