By Bryn Levy

Former U of S president files lawsuit over firing

Jun 4, 2015 | 7:06 AM

The former president of the University of Saskatchewan has filed a lawsuit relating to her firing in 2014.

Ilene Busch-Vishniac was fired after controversy erupted over the dismissal of professor Robert Buckingham, who had been dean of the U of S School of Public Health.

Buckingham had released a letter, titled ‘The Silence of the Deans,’ containing scathing criticism of the now-scrapped TransformUS cost-cutting program. Many cried foul over his firing, alleging it was an attempt by university administration to muzzle dissent. Ultimately, Buckingham was allowed to return to the U of S as a professor.

Officially, the university terminated Busch-Vishniac without cause. That allowed her to retain a position as a professor in the school’s faculty of engineering and forced the school to pay her out for 18 months’ salary.

In a 21-page statement of claim filed Wednesday in Saskatoon, her lawyer alleges that, among other things, the timing of Busch-Vishniac’s firing and statements made by U of S officials to the media left the impression she was fired over the Buckingham scandal.

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The documents also allege a conspiracy between another former U of S president, Peter Mackinnon, his wife, and Buckingham. The three are accused of co-ordinating the timing and content of the ‘Silence of the Deans’ letter to be as damaging as possible to Busch-Vishniac’s position as president.

The filing goes on to allege improper interference by Premier Brad Wall and then-Advanced Education Minister Rob Norris. The pair are accused of exceeding their authority by getting the U of S board to hold emergency meetings.

Busch-Vishniac is seeking over $8 million in damages, claiming that her firing has made her effectively unemployable as a senior university administrator.

In a media release, the U of S indicated that it intends to defend itself against the suit.

Busch-Vishniac referred requests for comment to her lawyer.

news@panow.com

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by Bryn Levy

Former U of S president files lawsuit over firing

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