Conservative Member of Parliament Garnett Genuis has accused a student group at York University of impeding free speech by refusing to allow him to host an event on campus. However, the university’s student center has stated that politics did not influence their decision.
In a social media post on Wednesday, Genuis mentioned that his event at the Toronto campus was canceled “due to a decision of the student union not to allow it.” While the post did not provide specific reasons for the cancellation, Genuis described it as another instance of “attacks on free speech.”
The President of the York Federation of Students, the university’s student union, clarified on Thursday that her group does not have the authority to arrange or cancel events. Somar Abuaziza stated that she was unaware of the planned event until contacted by media outlets.
After discussions with The Canadian Press, Genuis clarified that it was the York University Student Centre that declined the event, citing the reason as the event format.
Genuis has been actively visiting university campuses to engage in conversations with students regarding youth unemployment and affordability concerns. He aims to gather information that can be utilized in Parliament as his party’s jobs critic.
In tour videos shared on social media, Genuis can be seen conversing with students at a table next to a banner asking about generational prosperity. These events are organized with the assistance of campus Conservative groups.
According to Genuis, the student center at York University prohibited a guest speaker from sitting at a table, insisting that discussions with students must occur in a closed space, which he deemed unreasonable and restrictive of free idea exchange.
Genuis highlighted that York University was the sole campus that enforced the closed-room requirement for the event. He emphasized the importance of allowing open conversations on public institution premises.
The executive director of the student center, Jason Goulart, clarified via email that the event was not approved due to booking policies and lacked sufficient detail for proper assessment, emphasizing that the decision was not politically driven.
Goulart extended an invitation for the organizers to reapply for the event at any time. Genuis, when questioned about potential political bias in the event’s denial, expressed interest in seeing if politicians of differing perspectives would face similar treatment.
Genuis’s initial post on social media gained significant traction, with numerous views and comments. Suggestions were made by some commenters for legal action against the university, while fellow Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner called for defunding York University.
A university spokesperson clarified that they were unaware of Genuis’s planned event before his social media announcement and emphasized their commitment to lawful free expression and hosting diverse political voices on campus.
Genuis expressed a desire to engage with students at York University in the future, aiming to foster meaningful dialogue on campus issues.