Equality vs. Equity: The Crisis of Race-Based Admissions in Canadian Universities

Commentary Toronto Metropolitan University’s recent decision to reserve seats in its new medical school based on race and identity marks a troubling development in Canadian higher education. Set to open next fall, TMU’s medical school plans to allocate 75 percent of its seats to indigenous, black, and other “equity-deserving” groups, including 2SLGBTQ+ individuals. This policy sends a clear message: Admission to professional programs is now increasingly determined by identity rather than merit. This explicit form of race-based discrimination directly contradicts the values that have long shaped Canadian society—the principle that discrimination based on race is wrong and has no place in a civilized world....