First look at University Presidents' campus contracts

July 03, 2008 Hamilton Spectator

University presidents’ contracts are beginning to be made public after The Hamilton Spectator won a two-year battle to obtain a copy of the full employment details of McMaster University President Peter George.

The office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario supported the Spectator’s case that universities should make public the contracts of their chief executives, the same as other parts of the public sector. The commission ordered McMaster to give a copy of George’s contract to the Spectator by the end of February. McMaster balked, saying it would go to court rather than abide by the ruling.

However, late last month, McMaster abandoned its request for a judicial review and released the contract almost two years after the Spectator’s original request under freedom of information legislation in August, 2006.