On May 16, 2025, The Sherbrooke Record published a letter to the editor by CJPME Media Analyst Anthony Issa in response to its article, “Cégep unions decry budget cuts as harmful to student support.”
The original article concerned the fact that Dawson faculty had called for Minister Pascale Déry’s resignation over the mismanagement of her position as education minister in Quebec.
CJPME’s letter clarified the political nature and seriousness of her interference in course content related to Palestine.
The letter highlighted that Minister Déry admitted to pressuring Dawson College to censor a course on Palestinian perspectives, leading to widespread protests and union condemnation. It also exposed her past affiliation with CIJA Québec, a pro-Israel lobby group that supported her intervention and raising serious concerns about bias and political censorship.
CJPME thanks The Sherbrooke Record for publishing the letter. It is important that media challenge political interference and defending academic freedom on Palestine.