THUNDER BAY – The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is well on its way to becoming a stand-alone institution, which came as somewhat of a surprise to Lakehead University president Moira McPherson.
McPherson called NOSM an integral part of the Lakehead University and its community, in an emailed statement released on Thursday afternoon and said the legislation, which would make NOSM and the Université de Hearst independent, degree-granting institutions, was concerning, to say the least.
"We know the north is stronger when we work together -- this partnership, forged by the long-standing collaboration and support of so many local partners, has had a significant and positive impact on our region. We are concerned by today’s news, particularly in light of the absence of any consultation with the University, we are in the process of reviewing this decision and determining its impacts," McPherson said.
"As we conduct this important work, our priority is protecting the interests of our students and our communities and ensuring that Northwestern Ontario is championed every step of the way."
The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is a joint effort between Sudbury's Laurentian University, which recently filed for insolvency, and Thunder Bay's Lakehead University. Each school has its own campus
Dr. Sarita Verma, NOSM's dean, president and CEO, said because of the legal issues facing Laurentian University, there was little she could say about the legislation, introduced on Thursday.
"In light of Laurentian University’s Companies’ Creditor Arrangement Act (CCAA) proceedings, we are not able to comment at this time. We will continue to work with the Government of Ontario, rural, Indigenous and Francophone communities, learners, faculty and staff, and our institutional partners to remain an internationally renowned institution that prepares world-class health-care professionals to practise in Northern Ontario," Verma said in a statement posted to the NOSM website.
Minister of Colleges and Universities, Ross Romano, said the move will allow the school to take the next step in its development and maturity as an institution.
"This new independence will ensure that each institution has the autonomy to grow in ways that more effectively support the access to quality education for students and communities in the region. Hearst will become Ontario's second stand-alone French language university, joining the Université de l'Ontario français. NOSM will become more agile and nimble to the changing needs of students as they help tackle the need for doctors and other health human resources in Northern Ontario."
Both NOSM and Université de Hearst already operate largely independently, but the move would provide them with their own governance and administration, while allowing them to expand and offer more programming in communities across the North.
It would also put them on the path to being able to grant their own degrees.
“This legislative proposal is an important milestone for the Université de Hearst and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. Operating as independent institutions with the ability to make choices about future partnerships and growth would allow them to better meet the needs and aspirations of their student population," said Minister of Francophone Affairs Caroline Mulroney..
NOSM, which includes a strong Indigenous component, opened in 2005 and currently operates as a not-for-profit corporation of both Lakehead and Laurentian universities.
This past school year, NOSM had about 460 students enrolled.
