The provincial government warned colleges of financial cuts if they didn't develop new free speech policy by the new year

THUNDER BAY - Colleges across Ontario are adopting new free speech policy ahead of a Jan. 1 deadline implemented by the provincial government.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced in August that schools must develop policies that protect the right to free speech on campus, and failing to do so could result in financial penalties.

Confederation College drafted its version of the new policy far ahead of deadline.

“Although colleges greatly value civility and all members of colleges share responsibility for maintaining a climate of mutual respect, it is not the role of colleges to shield members of the college community from ideas and opinions that they may find disagreeable or offensive,” the new policy reads.

Confederation College’s policy, which was released on Monday, won’t look at all that different from the rest of the province’s 24 campuses.

The policy was developed collaboratively through the advocacy organization Colleges Ontario, school presidents, academic leaders, student representatives, and legal experts throughout Ontario.

S. Brenda Small, vice president of the centre for policy and research in Indigenous learning, represented Confederation College at the provincial table.

“The policy is designed to encourage open dialogue and freedom of expression among students and student activities, and freedom of expression among student activity.”

Small said the Thunder Bay-area campus’ unique position didn’t play a factor in the policy.

“The policy was contemplated to include various scenarios. It does not really depend on where the college is situated. We have taken a united and collaborative effort to do this work,” she said.

The government proposal is part of a Ford election campaign promise, which vowed to cut funding to schools that don’t allow controversial speakers.

The issue of free speech in Ontario most notably gained attention in the case of Lindsay Shepherd. A Wilfred Laurier University teaching assistant, Shepherd was chastised for airing a clip featuring professor Jordan Peterson, who has refused to use gender-neutral pronouns. The university later apologized.

Colleges may reasonably regulate the time, place and manner of freedom of expression to ensure that it does not disrupt normal college operations and ordinary college activities or endanger the safety of others, the Confederation College policy reads.

“Speech that violates the law ... that constitutes harassment, a threat or hate speech is not allowed.”

In terms of everyday campus behaviour, Small isn’t expecting a big change.

“I don’t think anything will be different in terms of public discourse, or debate. We just want to make sure that people who participate in public debate feel safe,” “It’s nothing that’s going to be really earth-shattering.”

She expects the changes to take place in a campus setting, such as a guest speaker or public forum rather than a classroom setting.

Colleges and universities must report annually to the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario beginning in September 2019, and schools that don’t comply could face additional funding cuts.

Universities across Ontario will develop their policy independently.