Demilitarize McGill reveals military research on McGill websites

The McGill University student campaign, known as Demilitarize McGill, claims that the links on their new website exposes the university’s involvement in military research and weapon development.

According the Montreal Gazette, this is something that McGill has been denying for a while.

Matters escalated when the university decided earlier this year to block access to information requests from students by filing a motion with the Access to Information Commission.

McGill says the requests have become abusive because the scope of information requested is unreasonable and the university doesn’t have the resources to process them.

Access to information requests pertaining to the issue have jumped to 170 in 2012 compared to 37 in 2011.

Students say they are rightfully seeking information to better understand McGill’s ties to activities like military research and mining investments.

The case will be heard beginning this Wednesday.

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about problems regarding Canada’s access to information requests.

According to the Access to Information Act, the law requires a response within 30 days, yet many requests have exceeded that time limit, some taking as a long as four months.

Macleans Magazine reports Canada is currently ranked 55th out of 98 countries in the world for upholding freedom of information.

Flickr Photo by: TMAB2003

STORY WRITTEN BY: JENNA MONNEY-LUPERT