Halifax Faculty Strike Halts Hundreds of University Classes

Hundreds of university classes have been suspended this week in Halifax as part-time faculty at Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) and Saint Mary’s University (SMU) walked off the job amid stalled contract talks over wages and job security.

Walkouts Hit Two Campuses

Part-time instructors at MSVU began their strike on Wednesday, followed by SMU faculty on Thursday. Both groups, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), have been working without a contract since 2024.

MSVU confirmed 337 classes were suspended, while SMU’s website listed about 300 affected courses, leaving thousands of students in academic limbo.

Union Calls for Fair Pay and Stability

CUPE local president Lauren McKenzie said members are struggling under low stipends and precarious contracts. “Many are cobbling together multiple jobs just to feed their families,” she said. “It’s become impossible to sustain an academic career under these conditions.”

McKenzie added that limited research time and lack of full-time opportunities have left many instructors frustrated and uncertain about their futures.

Universities Cite Financial Strain

MSVU associate vice-president Karen White acknowledged that compensation remains the main dispute but pointed to ongoing financial pressures. The university is projecting a $1.59-million deficit this year and plans to draw on reserves to manage rising costs.

“We’re facing significant financial and operational challenges,” White said. “We want to keep education affordable for students while maintaining quality programming.”

Impact on Students and Teaching

Part-time instructors teach a substantial share of courses—about 46% at MSVU and 18% at SMU. Their starting stipend is around $6,200 per course at MSVU and $6,100 at SMU, according to the union.

The suspension of hundreds of classes has disrupted lectures, labs, and grading schedules, leaving many students uncertain when their courses will resume.

Negotiations and Broader Context

Both universities said they remain open to further negotiations. A Saint Mary’s spokesperson stated that the institution “is committed to reaching a fair agreement in good faith,” emphasizing student success as a priority.

The strike follows a turbulent summer in Nova Scotia’s post-secondary sector, after Dalhousie University faculty faced a lockout in August. That dispute ended in mid-September, but not before weeks of class disruptions.

What Comes Next

The union says roughly 475 part-time faculty are currently under contract at both universities, though not all are teaching this term. Many are calling for wage increases to match comparable institutions and better guarantees for future employment.

As talks continue, the standoff highlights deeper tensions in Canada’s higher education system—between constrained university budgets and growing demands for fair compensation and job security.

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Agreement Reached After Month-Long Dispute

Dalhousie University’s Faculty Association, which represents nearly 1,000 professors and teaching staff, has officially ratified a new collective agreement, ending a protracted contract conflict. The agreement was approved in a vote where 95.7% of the returned ballots (899 of 939) were in favour. Participation was nearly 95%.

Key Gains: Salary, Leave, and Workload

Under the new three-year deal, faculty will receive a 10% pay increase over that period. Other improvements include increased parental leave benefits and a formal requirement for each academic unit to develop fair workload policies to ensure equitable distribution of duties. Additionally, the agreement grants five paid leave days annually for Indigenous faculty to observe cultural or traditional days of importance. Early-career faculty joining at ranks below full professor will also see salary adjustments of $1,500 to $5,000.

Dispute Origins and Negotiation Dynamics

The dispute began after Dalhousie locked out faculty on August 20, followed by a union strike two days later. Central issues were wage increases and the impact of inflation, together with disparities in compensation across seniority levels, type of instruction, and academic departments. The university’s initial offer had been increases of 2% per year over three years; the Faculty Association had countered seeking steeper raises in each year.

Resumption of Academic Activities

Faculty are set to return to work immediately, with classes resuming September 23. However, some schedules—including final exam dates—remain to be finalized, creating uncertainty among students about potential changes in academic timelines.

Student Response and Remaining Concerns

Some students, already disrupted by the months-long labour actions, plan a sit-in protest demanding tuition refunds. Rose Silivestru, a law student leading the “DalLockedOut” social media account, argues that students are paying full tuition for a term partially marked by interruption and wants compensation reflecting that disruption.

Why the Deal Matters for Academic Staff

For Dalhousie’s professors and instructors, vote outcomes reflect strong collective unity and pressure to secure terms addressing rising living costs, inequity in faculty workload, and support for marginalized groups. The agreement not only provides financial improvements, but also institutional commitments to structural changes (leave policies, workload fairness) that could affect quality of working life long-term.

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Saskatchewan Opens Doors to First Physician Assistant Program

The University of Saskatchewan (U of S) has officially welcomed the inaugural class of its new master’s program in physician assistant studies, marking a historic first for the province’s health-care education system.

Ceremony Welcomes 20 Students

On Tuesday, 20 students took part in a symbolic stethoscope ceremony, celebrating the start of their training. The event follows an intense admissions process, with more than 350 applicants vying for a spot.

Addressing Health-Care Shortages

Provincial health officials say the program is designed to help relieve pressure on Saskatchewan’s overburdened doctors. Physician assistants (PAs) perform tasks such as conducting preliminary patient exams, reviewing lab results, and assisting in treatment plans under a physician’s supervision.

A First for Saskatchewan

Until now, aspiring PAs in the province had to seek education elsewhere. Saskatchewan licensed PAs to practise in 2023, investing over $1 million to hire 12 positions. The province now becomes the only jurisdiction in Canada where PAs can hold both clinical and teaching roles.

Significant Government Investment

The Ministry of Advanced Education has allocated $7.1 million to establish the program, as announced in the 2025-26 provincial budget. About 75 per cent of the first cohort are Saskatchewan residents, reflecting the province’s goal of training and retaining local health talent.

Long-Term Workforce Strategy

Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill emphasized that the program is part of a broader plan to address staffing shortages. Saskatchewan currently has about 1,600 health-care vacancies, and several rural ERs have faced temporary closures this year.

Promising Career Prospects

Cockrill predicts all graduates will have job offers upon completion in two years. “They’ve already been in our hospitals. If they want to be here in Saskatchewan, we’ll have a job for them,” he said. At present, only four PAs are working in the province, with 32 positions open.

Looking Ahead

Officials hope the program will expand in future years to further strengthen Saskatchewan’s health system. Training PAs locally is expected to boost recruitment and retention, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

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Eviction Notice Delivered Without Warning

The University of Regina has ordered the Students’ Union (URSU) to leave its campus offices and commercial spaces by Wednesday, August 20, 2025, after abruptly terminating its lease. Security officers delivered the eviction notice in person, giving staff only minutes to collect personal belongings before locks were changed.

Students’ Union Seeks Extension

URSU Vice-President Jwalant Patel said the union was blindsided by the decision, as the original termination date was set for September 1. He argued the shortened deadline provides little time to transition operations, urging the university to allow the union to remain until the end of the month.

Impact on Student Services

The sudden closure has raised fears about the continuity of essential services funded through student fees. These include the subsidized transit pass, health and dental coverage, and the community fridge. Students worry about losing representation on campus at the start of a new academic year.

University Explains Decision

University President Jeff Keshen said the eviction was driven by a “loss of confidence” in URSU’s ability to represent students effectively. The university will now oversee bookings for the multi-purpose room and has shuttered the Lazy Owl bar until further notice.

Student Reactions

Reactions from the student body reflect frustration and concern. Business student Pall Agarwan called the move “saddening and heartbreaking,” citing the loss of support systems. Others noted the importance of spaces like the Lazy Owl, which they considered part of the campus identity.

Next Steps in Dispute

Patel has written to the university, objecting to the limited timeline and the requirement to leave behind student-funded assets. URSU maintains these should be held in trust only if the union is dissolved through a membership vote, not by administrative order. The union has asked for a response from the university by Monday, August 18.

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Province Invests in Teacher Training at Western University

Ontario is taking decisive action to address its mounting teacher shortage by allocating 200 new teacher college spaces to Western University over the next two years. This move is part of a broader provincial initiative to add 2,600 teacher education slots, aiming to ensure more qualified teachers enter classrooms across the province.

Addressing an Urgent Need

The expansion comes as Ontario faces a worsening shortage of certified teachers, a problem exacerbated by limited training capacity. Donna Kotsopoulos, dean of Western’s Faculty of Education, noted that high demand has led the university to turn away about half of its applicants, maintaining a waiting list of 600 to 800 hopefuls each year. The additional spaces are seen as a critical step to meet the growing demand for educators.

Implementation Timeline and Program Changes

The new spaces will be rolled out over the next two academic years, with 30 specifically reserved for French-language instruction to help alleviate the acute shortage of French-speaking teachers in Ontario. Beginning September 2024, Western’s Bachelor of Education program will shift to an accelerated 16-month format, eliminating the traditional summer break. The first eight months will be in-person on campus, while the remainder will be delivered online, allowing students to complete their studies from their home communities and reduce living expenses.

Why the Expansion Matters

The shortage of teachers in Ontario is driven not only by limited training spots but also by challenging working conditions. While the Ontario Teachers Federation estimates that about 48,000 certified teachers are not currently working in classrooms, factors such as burnout, safety concerns, and outdated facilities have contributed to attrition. The province’s $55.8 million investment, announced in the spring budget, is designed to make teacher training more accessible and responsive to labour market needs.

How the Program Will Work

Western’s revised program structure is tailored for flexibility and speed, with a blend of in-person and online learning. Students will complete three in-person practica at schools across Ontario, gaining hands-on experience while benefiting from the ability to study remotely during the latter part of the program. The curriculum has also been updated to include new courses in literacy, mathematics, and ecojustice, reflecting both provincial requirements and the evolving needs of Ontario’s education system.

Broader Implications for Ontario’s Education System

Education experts, including Deena Shaffer of Toronto Metropolitan University, welcome the increased funding but caution that systemic issues—such as working conditions and mentorship for new teachers—must also be addressed to retain talent in the profession. Western’s expansion, alongside similar moves at other institutions, represents a significant step toward stabilizing Ontario’s teaching workforce and ensuring students have access to qualified, well-prepared educators.

“We know school boards are facing challenges with teacher shortages, and we hope this shift will bring more qualified teachers more quickly into classrooms,” said Education Dean Donna Kotsopoulos.

With these changes, Western University is poised to play a pivotal role in strengthening Ontario’s education system for years to come.

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