Wilfrid Laurier University is facing criticism over plans to embed “Equity, Diversity and Inclusion” (EDI) into its research ecosystem.
In a news release, the Ontario university said it will soon share a “Dimensions Action Plan” containing “clear objectives, timelines and accountabilities for the Laurier community to embed EDI into Laurier’s research ecosystem and advance Laurier’s EDI Data Strategy”
Speaking to True North, Society for Academic Freedom and Scholarship (SAFS) president Mark Mercer said the university’s efforts means “Laurier wants us to know that it doesn’t much care about the academic quality of its research or teaching.”
Laurier was recently recognized by the Trudeau government as a “Dimensions institution” for its EDI agenda – along with ten other post-secondaries institutions.
The other institutions include Mohawk College, Mount Saint Vincent University, the University of Ottawa, the University of Winnipeg, Sheridan College, Toronto Metropolitan University, The University of British Columbia, Universite Laval, and the University of Calgary.
“The recipients of the Dimensions recognitions are transforming the Canadian research ecosystem and paving the way for better science and research by identifying and eliminating obstacles and inequities,” said Liberal innovation, science and industry minister Francois-Philippe Champagne. “Ultimately, they are leading us to a more successful Canada.”
Laurier has also signed the Trudeau government’s EDI Dimensions Charter, which calls on post-secondary institutions to, among other things, “recognize that equity, diversity and inclusion strengthen the research community, the quality, relevance and impact of research, and the opportunities for the full pool of potential participants.”
However, Mercer believes EDI “does not promote competition among traditions in the search for truth, but keeps researchers separate from each other.”
“EDI research, then, will be more about curation than discovery. It will drain the life out of research traditions and put their mummified bodies on display.”
In addition to having an EDI charter and recognizing institutions for their EDI initiatives, the Trudeau government requires that universities engage in EDI hiring practices when recruiting people for Canada Research Chairs (CRC) positions.
White men have hence been excluded from some research chair CRC positions.
The latter has resulted in the filing of a human rights complaint by Quebec college professor Frederic Bastien, and the Quebec national assembly unanimously passing a motion expressing support for merit-based hiring while denouncing race and gender quotas.
True North reached out to Wilfrid Laurier University for comment but they did not respond in time for publication.
