Appeal escalated: CIJA asks higher Ontario court to overturn agreements at the University of Windsor

The University of Windsor is seen in this file photo. (Sanjay Maru/CTV News Windsor)

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs is asking a higher Ontario court to overturn agreements at the University of Windsor.

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs believes two agreements constitute “overt discrimination”.

The agreements, inked between the University and the University of Windsor Students’ Alliance and the Liberation Zone Team in July 2024, ended a nine-week protest encampment on campus.

Included in their demands was a full boycott of Israeli universities.

The agreement only agreed to ‘not pursue any institutional academic agreements with Israeli universities’ along with other concessions.

The CIJA believes that sentence is a case of discriminatory business practices.

They first asked Ontario’s Minister of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement to overturn the deals.

The Minister refused.

The CIJA then asked the Divisional Court to overturn the Ministers’ decision. That appeal failed in October.

On Nov. 25, the CIJA filed a motion to the Ontario Court of Appeal.

“CIJA argues that the Divisional Court failed to properly consider the law’s core purpose: preventing discrimination,” the CIJA news release reads.

A date for the hearing has not been set.

“The university respects CIJA’s right to appeal and will continue to follow the legal process,” said the University of Windsor.

“As this matter proceeds, we will address the issues raised through the courts and participate as required.”

CTV News has reached out to the University of Windsor, the University of Windsor Students’ Alliance and members of the Liberation Zone Team for comment.