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#FundMUN Coalition to Host Provincial Election Forum on University Funding Tonight

ST. JOHN’S, Newfoundland and Labrador--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Memorial University Newfoundland (MUN) Coalition of Unions is hosting a public townhall event this evening ahead of the provincial election next month, to bring questions about support for the province’s only public university to all three political parties.

Attendees are invited to submit questions for the panel in advance.

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The event will feature a panel with speakers from each party, including the current Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development and candidates from the New Democratic Party and Progressive Conservative Party.

WHEN:

Wednesday, September 24th at 7:00 PM (doors open 6:30 PM)

WHERE:

IIC 2001 (Bruneau Centre), St. John’s Campus
(Free Parking in 1A, 17 and 18)

WHO:

The panelists are:

Bernard Davis
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Development and
Candidate for Virginia Waters-Pleasantville, Liberal Party

Laurabel Mba
Candidate for Mount Scio, New Democratic Party

Darrell Hynes
Candidate for Mount Scio, Progressive Conservative Party

The panel will be moderated by Adam Walsh
Host of CBC’s The Signal

The Coalition of Unions includes over 20 labour unions, associations and student union groups from across all MUN campuses. The Coalition launched the #FundMUN campaign last fall and has been calling for a restoration of public funding and government support of Memorial University Newfoundland.

Bill Kavanagh, President CUPE Local 1615, is one of the Chairs of the Coalition. CUPE 1615 is the only Coalition group so far to have suffered layoffs of permanent employees amid the university’s decision to reduce the 2025-26 budget this past July, which also resulted in the closure of the Office of Public Engagement, elimination of the Harris Centre’s operating budget, and collapsing of the St. John’s campus writing centre into the Centre for Innovation in Teaching and Learning.

This event is open to the public, and attendees are invited to submit questions for the panel in advance. Links to RSVP, submit questions, and register for virtual participation can be found here: 1615.cupe.ca

:so/cope491

Contacts

Sherry Hillier
President, CUPE Newfoundland & Labrador
709-765-2996

Bill Kavanagh
President, CUPE 1615
709- 864-2393    

Haseena Manek
CUPE Atlantic Communications
hmanek@cupe.ca

Industry:

CUPE

Release Versions
English
Hashtags
#CUPE
#CUPENL
#FUNDMUN
#MUNCoalitionUnions
#Union

Contacts

Sherry Hillier
President, CUPE Newfoundland & Labrador
709-765-2996

Bill Kavanagh
President, CUPE 1615
709- 864-2393    

Haseena Manek
CUPE Atlantic Communications
hmanek@cupe.ca

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CUPE NL on Facebook
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