(Sudbury, December 8, 2021) The Laurentian University Faculty Association (LUFA) applauds the
motion adopted today by the Standing Accounts Committee in the Ontario legislature, seeking
public access to Laurentian University’s financial documents. The motion issues a warrant to
senior Laurentian University officials Dr. Robert Haché and Mr. Claude Lacroix to produce
documents required by Ontario Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk.

In April 2021, the Auditor General was given a unanimous mandate from Ontario’s Standing
Committee on Public Accounts to conduct a value-for-money audit on the operations of
Laurentian University, from 2010-2021.

“LUFA’s members support transparency and have made it clear to Laurentian University that all
requested information should be made available to the Auditor General,” said LUFA Executive
Director, Linda St Pierre. “Faculty, staff, students, community and, indeed, all Ontario taxpayers
deserve answers on what drove Laurentian University into insolvency.”

LUFA has already advised the University that it supports full transparency and that LUFA was
not objecting to the University providing the documents related to the University’s dealings
with LUFA. LUFA encourages the University to provide all requested documents.

Laurentian University declared insolvency on February 1, using the Companies’ Creditors
Arrangement Act (CCAA), and then cut 69 academic programs and 110 faculty positions. Since
beginning her investigation, the Auditor General has raised serious concerns about obstacles to
her investigation, leading her to appeal to the Superior Court for greater access. The matter
was before the Ontario Superior Court on Monday.

LUFA was founded in 1979 and, prior to CCAA proceedings, represented over 400 full-time and 300 part time
professors at Laurentian University, the University of Sudbury, Huntington University, and Thorneloe
University. Today, LUFA represents roughly 250 full-time and 200 part-time professors at Laurentian
University. To learn more about LUFA, visit www.lufappul.ca.

For more information, please contact: Linda St Pierre, [email protected] 705 626-4252