Widdowson’s Fight for Academic Freedom

Mount Royal University is fighting to keep former professor Frances Widdowson out of the classroom after a labor board overturned a prior decision that denied her reinstatement — a move the university now claims threatens labor law itself. Widdowson was fired in 2021 over a social media spat, not her views on residential schools, and while an arbitrator found her discipline too harsh, they also blocked reinstatement due to potential disruption. The labor board later ruled that refusal to reinstate her was unreasonable — pointing out a legal contradiction: allowing free speech while claiming it could make employment impossible. Now Mount Royal seeks Alberta’s Court of Appeal to reverse the board’s decision, arguing the arbitrator’s original ruling should stand. Widdowson, however, sees this as a vital battle for academic freedom and is ready to fight to return to her post — calling the situation the destruction of institutions. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/a774422a9ee528ac