The absence of one person was apparent to the over 400 people who took in a Zoom meeting focusing on the financial woes of Laurentian University.
On Wednesday, speakers at the town hall-style meeting expressed their concerns and called upon the province to provide secure funding for the school.
The event organizers invited Sault MPP and Training, Colleges and Universities Minister Ross Romano to participate, but he declined.
Laurentian University is calling on Romano to ensure the continued support of the school.
Prior to the meeting, Romano did state in a press release the Ministry provided grants accounting for more than 40 per cent of the university’s total revenue in 2019-20, proportionally far more than other institutions.
Romano has appointed a special advisor, Alan Harrison to provide independent analysis and recommendations on how the government can proceed in supporting the long-term financial sustainability for Laurentian.