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Ontarioâs minister of colleges and universities says he fully expects a continued partnership between the Northern Ontario School of Medicine and both Laurentian University in Sudbury and Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, despite proposed legislation that, if passed, will make NOSM an independent institution.
Ross Romano announced earlier this week that Bill 276, the Supporting Recovery and Competitiveness Act, included a proposal to make the medical school âan independent, degree-granting post-secondary institution.â
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The decision drew rebukes from opposition politicians, including Sudbury-area MPPs France Gelinas, Jamie West and Michael Mantha, who questioned the motives of Romano and Premier Rob Ford in making the move, as well as its timing, and wondered aloud if it could be a precursor to NOSMâs move out of the city
SHARE ON: Minister of Colleges and Universities Ross Romano has announced the Northern Ontario School of Medicine is being severed from Laurentian and Lakehead universities. Photo provided by NOSM
Ontario Colleges and Universities Minister Ross Romano says making the Northern Ontario School of Medicine an independent university is a good move.
Romano issued the statement yesterday stating the government believes that the university is critical to ensuring the availability of health human resources in Northern Ontario and that it is ready to become an independent, degree-granting post-secondary institution.
Romano stated the legislation he tabled last week will allow the medical school to become more agile and nimble to the changing environment for students as they assist in tackling the region’s health human resource needs.
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THUNDER BAY Despite criticism from the dean of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, the president of Lakehead University is reiterating her concerns about a lack of consultation over the future of NOSM. There has been absolutely no consultation whatsoever with chief stakeholders whatsoever, said Moira McPherson, who s also the vice-chair of the medical school s board. The university, faculty, staff, students, the Indigenous community, hospitals, health-care providers and many other key groups.we ve all been left out of the conversation.
McPherson initially wrote Colleges and Universities Minister Ross Romano last week, noting there was no confirmation from the government that a NOSM campus will continue to serve Thunder Bay if it receives degree-granting status.
Thunder Bay Mayor Bill Mauro speaking at City Council.
As the controversy around the Northern Ontario School of Medicine continues, the mayor is standing with Lakehead University’s leadership.
The province has separated the school from LU and Laurentian University, and both universities say they were not consulted beforehand.
The President and Vice-Chair of LU sent a letter to the province’s minister of Colleges and Universities and other officials including the Premier. In it, Moira McPherson asks for answers, saying she doesn’t even know if there will be a NOSM campus in Thunder Bay or in Northwestern Ontario.