Canada Christian College

==History==
Canada Christian College traces its origins to Richmond College, which was founded in September 1967 as a Christian liberal arts college by Elmer McVety (1928-1993), Canadian evangelist John Wesley White (1928-2016) who served as chancellor, and his brother, Hugh White, who served as the first dean. The college, which expected to have 100 students in its first year, was originally located on a 7-acre site at Lake Shore Boulevard and Dixie Road leased from the federal government that was formerly a [[Canadian Army]] [[Long Branch Aerodrome|arsenal]]. Its degree-granting powers were based on a [[letters patent]] from Manitoba rather than a provincial charter from Ontario.<ref>"Evangelicals split over new college", ''Toronto Daily Star'', 18 Mar 1967: 12.</ref> McVety was "removed from the board" of Richmond College in June 1969 following a dispute but remained chairman of the Association for Education and Evangelism, the organization he founded in Manitoba in 1963 under which the college issued its degrees.<ref name="group">"Religious group sued", Toronto Star (1971-2009); Toronto, Ontario, 27 Apr 1977: A5.</ref><ref name="degrees"/> (The Association for Education and Evangelism became the Canadian Non-Denominational Association for Education and Evangelism in 1980 and is known today as the Evangelical Association).<ref>{{cite web |title=History of the Organization |url=http://www.evangelicalassociation.ca/CMS/?page_id=36 |website=Evangelical Association |publisher=Evangelical Association |access-date=May 21, 2021}}</ref> In 1974, the association launched a theological school named Canada Christian College, with classes being held at space rented from [[McMaster University]] in Hamilton<ref name="hist">{{cite web |url=http://www.canadachristiancollege.com/history.htm |title=A Glance at Canada Christian College |website=www.canadachristiancollege.com |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000528110158/http://www.canadachristiancollege.com/history.htm |archive-date=28 May 2000 |url-status=dead}}</ref> until 1980,<ref name="degrees"/> while Richmond College continued to offer arts programs at its campus at Leslie Street and [[Steeles Avenue]]. In 1981, when Richmond College closed, custody of student records was assigned to [[Trinity Western University]] in [[Langley, British Columbia (district municipality)|Langley, British Columbia]].

In 1982, the right of the Canada Christian College to grant degrees was revoked by the Ontario Ministry of Education.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Robert |title=Canada Christian College president Charles McVety. WATERLOO REGION NDP calls proposed university accreditation for Christian college a 'political favour' from Ford |url=https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/2020/10/20/ndp-calls-proposed-university-accreditation-for-christian-college-a-political-favour-from-ford.html |access-date=October 23, 2020 |work=Kitchener-Waterloo Record |date=October 20, 2020}}</ref> The revocation followed allegations from provincial officials that BA and MA degrees offered by Canada Christian College were "misleading" because they implied a general arts education. They also alleged they were "useless" for further study or teaching jobs in recognized universities and that the religious studies degrees were similarly suspect as the school was not accredited by any recognized religious educational body. At the time, the school had 300 students. According to Elmer McVety, most of the college's courses were prepared by the [[Christian International University]] in [[Phoenix, Arizona]],<ref name="degrees">"Bible college may lose its right to give degrees", ''Toronto Star'', August 12, 1982, pgs A1 and A8 (retrieved via ProQuest)</ref> an unaccredited institution<ref name="degrees"/> whose programs were considered "academically substandard" by the state of Texas.<ref name="group"/>

Elmer McVety died in 1993 and his son, Charles McVety, took over leadership of the college.<ref name="walrus-theocons">{{cite news|last=McDonald|first=Marci|date=December 5, 2006|title=Stephen Harper and the Theo-cons|publisher=The Walrus|url=http://www.walrusmagazine.ca/print/2006.10-politics-stephen-harper-and-the-theocons/|url-status=dead|access-date=December 5, 2006|archive-url=https://archive.today/20070928142903/http://www.walrusmagazine.ca/print/2006.10-politics-stephen-harper-and-the-theocons/#|archive-date=September 28, 2007|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

After having its Ontario degree granting authority revoked, Canada Christian College was able to continue issuing theological degrees under the authority of its [[Manitoba]] letters patent. However, in 1991 an official at the Ministry of Colleges and Universities stated that the Canada Christian College's granting of degrees appeared to contravene the Degree Granting Act of 1983.<ref>"Jews question status of college", Toronto Star (1971-2009); Toronto, Ontario [Toronto, Ontario]30 Nov 1991: A10.</ref> Minister of Colleges and Universities [[Richard Allen (Canadian politician)|Richard Allen]] agreed that the college was not authorized to grant degrees and pledged the college would be made to comply with the law and only grant diplomas and certificates.<ref name="cjn">"Canadian Jewish Congress worried over bill that would upgrade status of Bible college [to academic degree-granting institution]", Csillag, Ron. Canadian Jewish News; Don Mills, Ont. [Don Mills, Ont]19 Nov 1998: 3.</ref> In 1998, the ministry ordered the school to close.<ref name="walrus-theocons"/> That year, [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|Progressive Conservative]] MPP [[Jim Brown (Ontario politician)|Jim Brown]] introduced a [[private member's bill]] which sought to grant the institution degree-granting authority in Ontario; the bill died on the order paper without being voted upon.<ref name="csillag">"Canada Christian College drops Jewish studies", Csillag, Ron. Canadian Jewish News; Don Mills, Ont. [Don Mills, Ont]03 Dec 1998: 3.</ref><ref name="walrus-theocons" /> The next year, in 1999, Progressive Conservative MPP [[Frank Klees]] introduced a successful private member's bill (Bill PR-4) securing degree-granting authority for the college in Ontario.<ref name="walrus-theocons" />

The college is currently an accredited private degree-granting institution listed by the Ontario [[Ministry of Colleges and Universities]] and is permitted only to grant degrees "in the field of religious studies and research in higher Christian learning."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-36/session-3/bill-pr4|title = Canada Christian College and School of Graduate Theological Studies Act, 1999}}</ref>

===Proposal for and rejection of university status===
In 2020, the government of [[Doug Ford]] introduced a bill in the [[Ontario legislature]] which, if passed, would give the institution [[university]] status with the power to confer [[Bachelor of Arts]] and [[Bachelor of Science]] degrees. Former [[Premier of Ontario]] [[Kathleen Wynne]] criticized the proposal, asking, in reference to college president Charles McVety, “Why (would) this government...extend the mandate of the most publicly and vocally homophobic man in Ontario?”.<ref name="benzie">{{cite news |last1=Benzie |first1=Robert |title=Tories under fire for granting university status to evangelical college |url=https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2020/10/22/tories-under-fire-for-granting-university-status-to-evangelical-college.html |access-date=October 23, 2020 |work=Toronto Star |date=October 22, 2020}}</ref> Additionally, the [[Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations]] stated in a letter to Premier Ford that they are "alarmed that your government is intending to discreetly pass legislation that would allow the Canada Christian College to call itself a "university" and award degrees," adding that "The Ontario government should not grant accreditation and degree-granting privileges to institutions that do not meet the anti-discriminatory and anti-hate speech principles outlined in the [[Ontario Human Rights Code]],"<ref name="Crawley">{{cite news|last1=Crawley|first1=Mike|date=October 22, 2020|title=Backlash grows over Ford's move to grant Charles McVety's religious college university status|work=CBC News|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/doug-ford-charles-mcvety-canada-christian-college-university-1.5772778|access-date=October 23, 2020}}</ref>

McVety responded to these objections, saying that “the college, its president, staff, and faculty value all individuals, including the LGBTQ community.”<ref name="benzie" />

Ford was accused of giving McVety a [[quid pro quo]] and granting the Canada Christian College university status as a reward for McVety's past political support of Ford's [[2018 Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leadership election|leadership campaign]] as well as of his [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|Progressive Conservative]] government. [[Leader of the Official Opposition (Ontario)|Opposition Leader]] [[Andrea Horwath]] alleged "a backroom deal" between Ford and McVety.<ref name="benzie2">{{cite news|last1=Benzie|first1=Robert|date=October 27, 2020|title=Doug Ford accused of 'backroom deal' to reward controversial evangelist Charles McVety|work=Toronto Star|url=https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2020/10/27/doug-ford-accused-of-backroom-deal-to-reward-controversial-evangelist-charles-mcvety.html|access-date=October 27, 2020}}</ref>

Responding to these accusations, McVety stated that “this Ontario legislation is based upon fairness, not favouritism. It is an initiative that does nothing more than correct a systemic problem plaguing some long-standing degree-granting institutions that are called colleges, and not universities."<ref name="benzie" /> He further said that “it is sad that the NDP and MPP Kathleen Wynne would recklessly damage the lives of hundreds of students and thousands of graduates with mindless, hateful name calling, all while reading directly from a disreputable source, [[Wikipedia]].”<ref name="benzie" />

The Ontario government was also criticized for introducing the bill without the [[Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board]] (PEQAB) having completed review of the college's request to create new Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree programs or its request to change its name to the Canada University and School of Graduate Theological Studies.<ref>{{cite news |title=How Doug Ford's COVID-19 legislation helps advance his party's agenda |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/covid-19-ontario-premier-doug-ford-1.5770744 |access-date=October 23, 2020 |work=CBC News |date=October 22, 2020}}</ref> [[Liberal Party of Ontario|Liberal]] leader [[Steven Del Duca]] said “it certainly looks suspicious, which is troubling” that the government would introduce enabling legislation before the college has even been approved by the PEQAB.<ref name="benzie2" />

Speaking about the proposed name change, McVety stated that “It is unconscionable for students, the majority of whom are visible minorities or new Canadians, to have their hard-earned Bachelor, Master and Doctoral degrees marginalized due to outdated naming practices.”<ref>{{Cite news|title=McVety won't get special treatment in school accreditation process: Ford|url=https://torontosun.com/news/provincial/mcvety-wont-get-special-treatment-in-school-accreditation-process-ford|access-date=2020-10-23|newspaper=Toronto Sun|language=en-CA}}</ref>

Financial information submitted to the PEQAB as part of the college's application for university status revealed that Charles McVety and his son, Ryan, were given six-figure loans from the college's charitable funds - owing $860,000 by the end of 2019 — and that these funds were allegedly used to buy jet skis and vehicles - leading to questions being asked in the Ontario Legislative Assembly as well as a lengthy report in the ''[[Toronto Star]]'' as to how the college's charitable funds were being used.<ref name="status">{{cite news|last1=Rushowy|first1=Kristin|date=May 17, 2021|title=Decision on Charles McVety's university application for Canada Christian College coming soon|work=Toronto Star|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2021/05/17/decision-on-charles-mcvetys-university-application-for-canada-christian-college-coming-soon.html?li_source=LI&li_medium=thestar_canada|access-date=May 18, 2021}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite news|last1=Cohn|first1=Martin Regg|date=November 9, 2020|title=Charles McVety borrows heavily from his Christian college charity. He also holds a political IOU from Doug Ford|work=Toronto Star|url=https://www.thestar.com/politics/political-opinion/2020/11/09/charles-mcvety-borrows-heavily-from-his-christian-college-charity-he-also-holds-a-political-iou-from-doug-ford.html|access-date=May 18, 2021}}</ref>

The college, responded to these allegations, stating, "“The college, in its application, gave financial information under the promised terms that it would remain confidential. Any such information was improperly posted...The college will provide answers concerning its financial statements to an appropriate authority when requested.”<ref name=":0" />

On October 27, 2020, the [[Legislative Assembly of Ontario]] passed a motion to "condemn the extreme and hateful invective of Charles McVety and oppose any efforts to make Canada Christian College into an accredited university."<ref>{{cite news |last1=D'Mello |first1=Colin |title=Ontario government to fast-track Charles McVety legislation amid public outcry |url=https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/mobile/ontario-government-to-fast-track-charles-mcvety-legislation-amid-public-outcry-1.5202866 |access-date=November 24, 2020 |work=CTV News |date=November 24, 2020}}</ref>

On December 8, 2020, Bill 213, an [[omnibus bill]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=McLaren |first1=David |title=Christmas comes early for the deep-pocketed friends of Premier Doug Ford |url=https://www.thespec.com/opinion/contributors/2020/12/14/christmas-comes-early-for-the-deep-pocketed-friends-of-premier-doug-ford.html |access-date=May 21, 2021 |work=Hamilton Spectator |date=December 14, 2020}}</ref> which included enabling legislation which would have granted additional degree granting status and use of the term university, was passed by the provincial legislature.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Legislation|url=https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-1/bill-213/status|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210302133643/https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-1/bill-213/status |archive-date=March 2, 2021 }}</ref> However, the portion of the bill relating to Canada Christian College was not [[Royal assent|proclaimed]], pending a decision by the PEQAB on the college's application for university status.<ref name="Romano"/>

A spokesperson for Minister of Colleges and Universities [[Ross Romano]] announced on May 21, 2021, that the “PEQAB has recommended that the institution not be granted expanded degree-granting authority or a name change at this time" and that "The minister has reviewed and accepts their recommendation.”<ref name="Romano">{{cite news |last1=Rushowy |first1=Kristin |title=Charles McVety denounces 'vicious attacks' as Canada Christian College is denied university status |url=https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2021/05/19/charles-mcvetys-canada-christian-college-denied-university-status.html |access-date=May 21, 2021 |work=Toronto Star |date=May 21, 2021}}</ref> Accordingly, Romano's spokesperson stated that “the government will not be proclaiming Schedule 2 of Bill 213 at this time.”<ref name="Romano" />

In response to the decision by Romano, McVety stated that it is the students at Canada Christian College who will suffer because of the "political corruptness" of the university proposal process.  He further stated that "PEQAB put forward to the ministry a fraudulent misrepresentation of the college.  The government was informed of the misrepresentations but refused to investigate...Our students and campus community deserved better from their government."  He also intimated that Canada Christian College would be filing a lawsuit against PEQAB.<ref name="Romano" />