OCUFA Report, March 12, 2014 – Ontario proposes bringing universities under Ombudsperson oversight

  
                                        
Ontario proposes bringing universities under Ombudsperson oversight
On Thursday, March 8, 2014, the Premier Kathleen Wynne unveiled a sweeping “Accountability Act” that, among other reforms, will allow the provincial Ombudsperson – currently Andre Marin – to investigate universities.

Data check: Even more evidence of the benefits of a university education
New Statistics Canada research demonstrates that university graduates earn considerably more than their peers without a degree. The new report, An investment of a lifetime? The long-term labour market premiums associated with a postsecondary education, shows that university grads make up to 75 per cent more than those with high school only.

Ontario proposes bringing universities under Ombudsperson oversight
On Thursday, March 8, 2014, the Premier Kathleen Wynne unveiled a sweeping “Accountability Act” that, among other reforms, will allow the provincial Ombudsperson – currently Andre Marin – to investigate universities.

The proposed act also extends Ombudsperson oversight to municipalities and school boards. Other reforms include changes to the lobbyist registry and a new requirement for MPPs and civil servants to post their expenses online.

The Ombudsperson is tasked to investigate complaints about public services in Ontario. Under the Ombudsman Act, the Office of the Ombudsman has broad authority to investigate government and government agencies.

The Accountability Bill is expected to be tabled before the end of March. OCUFA will be monitoring the new legislation closely to ensure that the rights of faculty are respected. While an appropriate amount of accountability is important within Ontario’s university sector, any new arrangement must not impinge on the academic freedom of professors and academic librarians.

Data check: Even more evidence of the benefits of a university education
New Statistics Canada research demonstrates that university graduates earn considerably more than their peers without a degree. The new report, An investment of a lifetime? The long-term labour market premiums associated with a postsecondary education, shows that university grads make up to 75 per cent more than those with high school only.

The report tracks Census data from 1991 to 2010. Over the 20 year period, male university grads make on average $732,000 more than individuals with only a high school credential, and $485,000 more than community college graduates. Women earned $448,000 and $269,000 respectively.

While this is good news for university grads generally, the persistent pay gap between male and female graduates remains a serious concern.

The StatCan research comes on the heels of a Council of Ontario Universities (COU) study that shows the significant labour market advantage of a university degree. Earlier this year, the American Association of Colleges & Universities published research highlighting the success of liberal arts graduates. Clearly, labour market success is one of the many advantages of a university degree, alongside better health outcomes, increased civic engagement, and a host of other social and economic benefits.