Quantcast
Channel: Ottawa Citizen – Montreal Gazette
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 14

Andrew Potter, author of controversial Macleans article on Quebec, resigns McGill post

0
0

Andrew Potter, author of a Macleans article on Quebec that this week sparked a firestorm of controversy, announced Thursday morning he has stepped down from his post as head of McGill University’s Institute for the Study of Canada.

In a letter of resignation posted on Twitter, Potter, a former editor-in-chief of the Ottawa Citizen, repeated that he “deeply regrets many aspects of the column” published by Maclean’s that apparently linked the fiasco on Highway 13 during last week’s blizzard to a “social malaise” within Quebec.

Potter later apologized for the column.

On Thursday, Potter wrote that he has come to the conclusion “that the credibility of the Institute will be best served by my resignation,” adding he will continue to hold an academic position at McGill.

The Institute for the Study of Canada describes itself on the university’s website as running “an academic program at McGill University, (that) supports an active research environment, and organizes a variety of large-scale, public events on matters of interest to Canadians.”

The description adds that while the Institute is non-partisan, it is “is no stranger to debate and controversy.”

Soon after Potter’s announcement, the Board of trustees of the Institute issued a statement accepting his resignation and recognizing his “contribution to the Institute”.

Potter was appointed head of the Institute for a three-year term last August.

In a statement Thursday, McGill principal and vice-chancellor Suzanne Fortier said Potter showed “courage” in making a “very difficult and painful decision,” to resign as head of the Institute.

Fortier said concerns about academic freedom at the university are “unfounded” and that “academic freedom is a foundational principle of McGill University.”

Related


Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 14

Latest Images

Trending Articles





Latest Images