MOFA Statement: Bill 10 will not achieve its goals, gives the government too much unilateral power
13 May 2024
Winnipeg/Treaty 1 territory – The Manitoba Organization of Faculty Associations (MOFA) expresses its grave concern about Bill 10, The Advanced Education Administration Amendment Act, which, if passed, would not achieve its goals and would dangerously increase the power of the government to make unilateral decisions detrimental to universities.
MOFA strongly supports the creation of and compliance with robust, survivor-centered sexual violence policies but the bill presents many problems not clearly directed at ensuring university boards and administrators deliver on their responsibilities to students and survivors. Bill 10 would grant the Minister of Advanced Education and Training the extraordinary power to singlehandedly reduce a post-secondary institution’s operating grant if they decided it was not in compliance with its duty to create and enforce sexual violence policies. MOFA is profoundly concerned by the lack of clarity in the bill on the procedures, processes, and review mechanisms that would allow the minister to invoke this extraordinary power.
“Not only is the bill silent on the criteria that would enable the Minister to unilaterally cut an operating grant, but it also enables a reduction of the grant to zero, thereby risking the closure of the institution. This would harm all faculty and students, including the very survivors who come forward when universities fail to comply with their own policies,” says Allison McCulloch, MOFA President.
MOFA urges the government to engage in a consultative process with students, faculty, administration, and experts on sexual violence before proceeding further, and urges the government to commit to its election promise to protect, not intrude on, university autonomy.
The Manitoba Organization of Faculty Associations (MOFA) is comprised of members of faculty associations from Brandon University, Université de Saint-Boniface, University of Manitoba, and the University of Winnipeg representing over 1,600 individual academic staff. We are based on both Treaty 1 and Treaty 2 territories, and the homeland of the Métis Nation.
The Organizing and Communications Committee needs you!
Are you passionate about making a difference? Do you have ideas and a great enthusiasm to share them? Do you have a knack for organizing social events? Maybe you're passionate about politics and want to see elected officials do more for post-secondary education.
Now is the perfect time for you to join one of the UMFA Organizing and Communications Committees. Choose from the Listening Tour Sub-committee, Election Action Sub-committee, Social Events Sub-committee, Safe Air Sub-committee, and the Bargaining Sub-committee.
Listening Tour Sub-committee
The best way to keep your colleagues connected to the Association is to talk to them one-on-one. Members of the OCC Listening Tour Sub-committee will be reaching out to UMFA Members throughout the year to hear what they have to say about their workplaces, and about how working conditions can be improved. Training and support provided!
Social Events Sub-committee
Have a knack for organizing social events? Join this OCC Sub-committee and help get your colleagues together for coffee, conversation, and other social activities.
Safe Air (formerly the COVID-19) Sub-committee
The Safe Air sub-committee works to educate and advocate for safe, clean air for everyone on our campuses. We advocate for improved ventilation to reduce transmission of airborne viruses and pathogens, create materials to support precautions in our workplace (masking, COVID-19 Teaching FAQ) and work together to advocate for a future of safe air on campus that goes beyond the current and on-going COVID-19 pandemic.
Bargaining Sub-committee
This committee is a new initiative to help support the bargaining team, Collective Agreement Committee (CAC), and Executive with member mobilization initiatives.
Whether you're a seasoned expert or you just want to bring a fresh perspective to the table, your unique skills and ideas are valuable assets that can help shape the committees' initiatives.
For information on how to get involved and for more details on each sub-committee, contact OCC Chair Jenna Tichon at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Committee meetings are open to all members. The dates for each are on the website here: https://www.umfa.ca/news/meetings-events.
