A day after the gun attack in Ottawa, the debate has started over how Canada should respond. Among these are the voices of academics. Wesley Wark, professor at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa, urges Canadians in his Globe and Mail op-ed to be resilient, and ensure that our democratic society does not get “bent out of shape” by recent events. Le Devoir interviewed Criminology professor Maurice Cusson, who reminds us that homicide claims far more victims annually in Canada than terrorist attacks, in addition to discussing some of the ways that these attacks can be prevented.
On the related topic of ISIS, David Bensoussan, professor of electrical engineering at Université du Québec, compares the merits of humanitarian and military intervention in the Middle East in Le Devoir, arguing the need for a long-term strategy.
The week of October 20-26 is Open Access Week. The Federation has taken this occasion to launch a five-day blog series showcasing posts from our own staff as well as friends of the Federation about open access. Topics covered include the ASPP and the “Parcours numériques” collection at Les Presses de l’Université de Montréal.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation has also launched an excellent series of blogs about open access which can be read here.
Cindy Blackstock, Federation board member, professor, and executive director of the First Nations and Family Caring Society is entering the last round of a long legal battle with the federal government about funding for aboriginal children. The story was covered by the CBC and Blackstock has co-authored an op-ed in The Globe and Mail discussing the government’s shortcomings and evidence of discrimination.
For more higher education articles this week be sure to read The Globe and Mail’s Canadian University Report.