The minister will know that there is a growing number of professors around Ontario’s universities who have serious issues with Bill 166. You’ve heard them at committee.

This is a quote: “Bill 166 fundamentally changes the way universities in this province are governed, moving us away from democratic principles of university autonomy.” This is from Sue Ferguson, from Wilfrid Laurier University in my riding.

She went on to say, “We need to ensure that the safeguards from political interference in our institutions of higher learning are strengthened, not weakened.”

And this is from the Coalition Against Political Interference in Public Research and Education in Ontario, which has been created because of Bill 166: “Instead of advancing student mental health and anti-racism on campuses, this bill stymies both and opens to the door to a degree of political interference” never seen before in this province.

What do you say to those informed voices who have serious and legitimate concerns about Bill 166?