Professor Patrick Provost has just been suspended for a second time by Laval University for controversial remarks on anti-COVID vaccines, a decision that comes as Quebec recently called university leaders to order regarding the “censorship which hampers academic freedom.
Mr. Provost, who is a professor in the department of microbiology-infectiology and immunology at Laval University, was suspended without pay for four months, twice as long as during the first suspension imposed in June for similar reasons. .
This time, it was comments made on CHOI 98.1 FM which were the source of the sanction. This RNA specialist reiterated his opposition to vaccinating children against COVID, questioning its effectiveness and benefits, which goes against the scientific consensus on the issue.
A few days later, an auditor filed a complaint via the Université Laval website, which led to the initiation of a new disciplinary process.
On January 23, the professor was informed of his four-month suspension without pay which began the same day. Management told him that any repeat offense could lead to dismissal, reports Mr. Provost.
This decision is again challenged by the Union of Professors of Laval University, which filed a grievance on Wednesday to oppose it. However, it was not possible to reach one of his spokespersons at the time of writing his lines.
Laval University accuses Patrick Provost of having violated the principles set out in its Policy on responsible conduct in research, reports the principal concerned, who disputes this interpretation considered to be much too broad.
“They interpret my radio appearance as part of a research activity or part of my teaching duties. But I did not present my research results, I exercised my critical thinking on certain aspects of society related to science that I am able to master. It’s my academic freedom that is at stake,” says Mr. Provost.
For its part, the management of Laval University indicates that it cannot comment directly on the situation, since the personal file of an employee is confidential.
Its spokesperson, Andrée-Anne Stewart, assures that “everyone at Laval University can do research that calls vaccination into question, speak publicly about vaccination and express opinions on the subject”.
Academic Freedom Act
This decision comes as the Act respecting academic freedom in universities was adopted last June.
The legislation states that a professor has the right “to express his opinion on society and on an institution, including the establishment to which the person belongs, as well as on any doctrine, dogma or opinion”.
For its part, Université Laval specifies that this right “must be exercised in accordance with the standards of ethics and scientific rigor generally recognized by the university community and taking into account the rights of other members of the university community”.
At the beginning of January, the new Minister of Higher Education, Pascale Déry, also sent a “clarification” to university leaders, worried about possible “slippage” concerning respect for academic freedom. In this missive, she recalls in particular that “censorship” has no place in universities.
First suspension denounced
The first suspension of Mr. Provost, last June, was also challenged by the Union of Professors of Laval University, through a grievance.
This decision had also been strongly denounced by the Quebec Federation of University Professors (FQPPU), which had invited Laval University to “correct the situation” on this subject.
The first sanction imposed on this professor does not respect the Law on academic freedom in the university environment, had concluded the FQPPU after analysis of the file.