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U.S. President Donald Trump has issued warnings about cutting funding to certain universities unless they comply with his demands regarding ideological reforms. This stance bears similarities to a commitment made by Canadian Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, although Poilievre has not specified the actions he plans to take.
Trump’s directive, which has incited backlash over perceived encroachments on academic freedom, prominently surfaced this week when the White House announced a freeze on over $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts directed to Harvard University.
This decision followed Harvard President Alan Gerber’s refusal to accommodate the White House’s requests, declaring in a letter that the institution “will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights.”
On the Canadian front, Poilievre has threatened to withdraw funding from universities that he believes carry an ideological bias. In a tweet on Christmas Eve via X (formerly Twitter), he vowed to “defund wokism and fight antisemitism.”
‘Put an end to woke ideology’
That tweet referenced a telephone interview with WinnipegJewishReview.com, wherein he stated he would eliminate funding for institutions perceived to promote a “woke antisemitic agenda,” targeting not only universities but also federally funded museums.
His commitment was again emphasized on March 26 during the announcement of the Conservative party’s Quebec platform, where he claimed that a Conservative administration would “put an end to the imposition of woke ideology in the federal civil service and in the allocation of federal funds for university research.”
This declaration alarmed the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT), which issued a statement expressing concern over Poilievre’s intentions to influence the distribution of federal research grants. David Robinson, CAUT’s executive director, voiced apprehension about a political party leader attempting to dictate grant distribution, citing the adverse effects of similar political interference in the U.S.
“Witnessing such meddling as we have seen in the U.S. under the Trump administration is troubling and unwanted in Canada,” Robinson stated.
As protests over the war in Gaza made their way to campuses across the U.S., the Trump administration, starting with Columbia University, criticized these institutions for their management of pro-Palestinian movements, which escalated following the 2023 attacks by Hamas on Israel and the subsequent Israeli military response.
Trump has labeled the protests as anti-American and antisemitic, accusing universities of promoting Marxism and radical leftist views while threatening to withdraw federal support from those that do not comply with his administration’s stipulations.
On April 3, the White House outlined demands for Harvard, which included restrictions on face coverings, limitations on campus protests, and an investigation into perceived biases in academic departments. The list of demands was later expanded to call for leadership changes, alterations to admissions policies, and the removal of recognition for specific student organizations.
Harvard’s administration stated that while they had implemented various reforms to combat antisemitism, many of the government’s stipulations appeared unrelated to that issue, instead indicating an effort to control the intellectual landscape at the university.
The roots of ‘woke’
Though Poilievre has not unveiled specifics about his plans, experts suggest he is mirroring tactics from the U.S. with his threats to withdraw funding. Patrick McCurdy, an associate professor of communication at the University of Ottawa, emphasized that Poilievre’s commitment to defund should be taken seriously, akin to his reiterated threats against the CBC.
McCurdy participated in research analyzing the rise of anti-woke rhetoric in Canadian parliamentary debates from 2019 to 2023. The research found a stark increase in the use of “woke,” which appeared in parliamentary discussions twice in 2019 but surged to 63 instances by 2023, largely due to Poilievre’s contributions.
In a recent article for Policy Options, McCurdy explained that the term “woke” originated from the African-American context of heightened awareness regarding racial injustices. Initially a term for social consciousness, it has become a pejorative used to critique those engaged in social justice work, suggesting that they are excessively focused on identity politics and inclusion initiatives.
McCurdy argued that Poilievre’s proposals, such as defunding universities based on ideological grounds, resemble strategies intended to provoke fear and division, legitimizing extreme views within mainstream political discourse.
A ‘threat to academic freedom’
“It would be interesting to understand how he plans to implement these changes while respecting the autonomy of researchers and academic institutions,” McCurdy noted, stressing that such actions could pose a significant threat to academic freedom.
Historically, the Conservative Party has contemplated the idea of withdrawing federal resources from universities in response to campus controversies. During Andrew Scheer’s leadership campaign in 2017, he advocated for cutting funding from institutions that stifle free speech and debate.
In the context of his leadership race in 2022, Poilievre similarly stated that universities wishing to maintain their access to federal grants must commit to safeguarding academic freedom and fostering free speech. He also promised to appoint a “free speech guardian” to enforce these principles.
He stated, “Universities should foster debate, not stifle it. As Prime Minister, I’ll defend free speech on campus. If universities want to keep their federal research grants, they’ll need to protect academic freedom and guarantee free speech on campus.” link
The Conservative Party has yet to clarify its current policy proposals. In an interview, Neil Oberman, a Conservative candidate for Mount Royal in Quebec, indicated that he supports cutting federal funding for universities failing to address antisemitism adequately.
“Universities will not receive a single penny from the federal government until they clean up their act,” he asserted.
Stéphane Sérafin, an assistant professor of law at the University of Ottawa, acknowledged that while he perceives “woke ideology” as a concern within academia, he remains uncertain about the specifics of Poilievre’s proposed initiatives.
He speculated that a Conservative administration might seek to eliminate equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) requirements in research funding. However, he expressed doubts about whether Poilievre’s government would adhere to its ideological stance or simply defund universities altogether.
“Is he going to defund everything, or will they only target specific programs?” Sérafin questioned. “His plans remain ambiguous, and the implications of his proposals hinge on the details involved.”
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