TORONTO — Conservative Member of Parliament Garnett Genuis has accused a student body at York University of undermining free speech after he was denied permission to hold a campus event, an allegation the university’s student centre strongly disputes.
In a social media post shared late Wednesday, Genuis said a planned event at York was cancelled following a decision by student authorities, calling the move a “further attack on free speech.” The post quickly gained significant traction online, drawing hundreds of thousands of views and sparking heated debate.
The York Federation of Students, however, rejected the claim. Its president, Somar Abuaziza, said the union has no authority to approve or cancel events and had no prior knowledge of Genuis’s planned appearance.
Genuis later clarified that it was the York University Student Centre that denied the booking. According to Genuis, he was informed the refusal was based on the proposed format of the event, which involved open conversations with students in a public space.
The Alberta MP has been visiting campuses across the country as part of a tour focused on youth unemployment and affordability. The initiative, supported by campus Conservative groups, typically involves informal discussions with students at tables set up in common areas.
Genuis said York was the only campus that required such discussions to take place in a closed room, a condition he argues limits open dialogue. “There’s a responsibility at public institutions to allow the free exchange of ideas,” he said.
The student centre’s executive director, Jason Goulart, said in a statement that the event was not approved due to booking policy requirements, not political considerations. He added that organizers failed to provide sufficient detail for proper assessment and were welcome to reapply.
The controversy prompted reactions from other Conservative MPs, including Michelle Rempel Garner, who publicly criticized the university and called for funding consequences.
York University said it had no prior knowledge of the event before the social media post circulated and emphasized its commitment to lawful free expression. University spokesperson Yanni Dagonas said the institution regularly hosts elected officials from across the political spectrum.
Despite the dispute, Genuis said he remains interested in engaging York University students in the future and hopes to find a way forward that allows open, public discussion on issues affecting young Canadians.