A leading Canadian politician has said it is “unacceptable” that two of the country's colleges have campuses in Saudi Arabia that do not admit women students.
Kathleen Wynne, the Premier of Ontario province, has criticized both Niagara College and Ottawa-based Algonquin College for running campuses in Saudi Arabia for two years that have a men-only policy. These campuses follow Shariah law which forbids the education of men and women in the same classroom.
Ontario’s Colleges and Universities Minister Reza Moridi said on Thursday that he was concerned that women were excluded.
Ms Wynne said that she told Mr Moridi to meet with the colleges as soon as she found out about the situation, which she said has “got to change”.
Reports speculate Ms Wynne knew about the men-only policy for months and only called out the colleges in public after the media picked up the story.
Warren Thomas, President of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, said that he first wrote to Ms Wynne about this issue 10 months ago.
“I asked why Ontario community colleges were doing business with the Saudi government – a regime infamous for its human rights abuses. I also expressed concern over Algonquin's losses in Saudi Arabia – Ontario taxpayer money that should be spent right here in Ontario to educate Ontario students,” he said.
“I'm still waiting for answers,” he added.
Ontario provides $1.44 billion in funding to its 24 community colleges, with Algonquin getting $103 million for the current fiscal year, while Niagara College received $45 million, according to Metro News.
