OTTAWA, Jan. 21 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian Association of University
Teachers (CAUT) has written an open letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper
protesting the refusal by Canada to allow Dr. William Ayers, Distinguished
Professor of Education at the University of Illinois-Chicago, entry into
Canada.
Professor Ayers had been invited by the Centre for Urban Schooling at the
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto to
give a public lecture at the University. He was also scheduled to meet with
Toronto District School Board principals and senior staff, with youth
community workers at a school in Regent Park, and to be interviewed on CBC. He
was refused entry to Canada on Sunday, January 18.
"It is wrong for the Government of Canada to decide which scholars
universities can invite to their campuses," the letter says. "Too often, in
recent years, this has been practice of the Bush Administration in the United
States - a practice we and our American counterpart - the American Association
of University Professors - have denounced... It is with shame that we now find
our government is behaving in the same manner."
CAUT is calling for a public investigation into Professor Ayers' denial
of entry into Canada, and wants the Prime Minister to advise the University of
Toronto that should it invite Professor Ayers again, the government will allow
him to enter Canada.
CAUT's letter to Prime Minister Harper is below.January 20, 2009
The Rt. Honourable Stephen Harper
Prime Minister of Canada
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa ON K1A 0A2
Dear Prime Minister:
We are writing to object in the strongest terms to the refusal of the
Government of Canada to allow Dr. William Ayers, Distinguished Professor
of Education at the University of Illinois-Chicago, entry into Canada.
Professor Ayers had been invited by the Centre for Urban Schooling at the
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto
to give a public lecture at the University. He was also scheduled to meet
with Toronto District School Board principals and senior staff, with
youth community workers at a school in Regent Park, and to be interviewed
on CBC.
The actions of your border officials in denying entry to this eminent
academic brings disrepute to Canada and shows that your government has
little regard for academic freedom.
Professor Ayers is a controversial figure whom Sarah Palin demeaned in
the American presidential election as part of her efforts to attack
Barack Obama. While a student radical in the United States in the 1960's
who challenged the American government and was arrested on various
occasions, Professor Ayers was never convicted of a felony or any
equivalent charge that could be used to justify his exclusion from
Canada. He did, however, go on to achieve international acclaim as an
expert in educational reform. His work has been recognized with the title
"Distinguished Professor" at his own university, with honorary
doctorates, and with invitations to be a visiting scholar at various
American universities, including Vassar and the University of South
Carolina.
It is wrong for the Government of Canada to decide which scholars
universities can invite to their campuses. Too often, in recent years,
this has been practice of the Bush Administration in the United States -
a practice we and our American counterpart - the American Association of
University Professors - have denounced. It is with shame that we now find
our government is behaving in the same manner.
We call on you as Prime Minister to ask your Minister of Public Safety to
launch an immediate public investigation into Professor Ayers' denial of
entry into Canada on January 18, 2009. We also call on you to advise the
University of Toronto that should it invite Professor Ayers again, your
government will allow him to enter Canada for that purpose.
Universities serve the common good of society by fostering open
discussion and robust debate. In the words of the University of Toronto's
"Statement of Purpose", within the unique university context,
"the most crucial of all human rights are the freedom of speech,
academic freedom and freedom of research. And we affirm that these
rights are meaningless unless they entail the right to raise deeply
disturbing questions and provocative challenges to the cherished
beliefs of society at large and the university itself... for there is
no one else, no other institution and no other office, in our modern
liberal democracy, which is the custodian of this most precious and
vulnerable right of the liberated human spirit."
As Prime Minister of our country, you have an obligation to ensure that
the federal government fosters academic freedom, not restricts it. We
look forward to your prompt reply to our requests.
Sincerely,
(signed) (signed)
Penni Stewart James L. Turk
President Executive Director
/mmp
cc: The Hon. Peter Van Loan, Minister of Public Safety
The Hon. Michael Ignatieff, Leader of the Opposition
Mr. Jack Layton, Leader of the NDP
M. Gilles Duceppe, Leader of the Bloc Québécois
Dr. David Naylor, President, University of Toronto
Mr. Jeff Kugler, Executive Director, Centre for Urban Schooling,
OISE/UofT
Prof. Cary Nelson, President, American Association of University
Professors
Prof. William Ayers
For further information: James Turk, CAUT Executive Director, (613)
820-2270, ext. 176, mobile (613) 277-0488
