Equality vs. Equity: The crisis of race-based admissions in Canadian universities
By Patrick Keeney | The Epoch Times
Summary
Toronto Metropolitan University’s recent decision to reserve seats in its new medical school based on race and identity is far from an isolated instance, and represents a broader shift in Canadian universities. The movement from equality of opportunity to equity has redefined how institutions approach admissions, hiring, and advancement, but this explicit form of race-based discrimination directly contradicts the values that have long shaped Canadian society—the principle that discrimination based on race is wrong and has no place in a civilized world.
The legal framework in Canada allows for such policies, but critics warn that prioritizing proportional representation based on race, gender, and identity could compromise the pursuit of excellence in academia.
As Queen’s University law professor Bruce Pardy aptly notes, “In Canada, discrimination is lawful as long as it is committed against the right groups—and in particular against straight white men.”
