[Intl-tobacco] Canada: U of Alberta refuses tobacco-sponsored scholarship donation

[Robert Weissman]

U of A refuses tobacco-sponsored scholarship donation
CMAJ 2000;164(1):81
by Barbara Sibbald / CMAJ
Source: Canadian Medical Association Journal, Tuesday, 1/9/01

The University of Alberta has turned down a donation of nearly $500 000
from an undisclosed tobacco manufacturer while it debates the ethics of
accepting such gifts. In a closed session, the university's Board of
Governors voted not to accept the donation, which was to be used for
scholarships.

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), Western Canada's largest antitobacco
lobby group, wants the university to adopt a policy refusing all tobacco
company sponsorship, as the University of British Columbia has already
done.  "Universities should serve as healthy role models to the
community," said ASH Executive Director Les Hagen. "It's a slippery slope
to [tobacco industry] funding of research."

The University of Toronto, McGill and the University of Calgary have all
accepted funding from Imasco Ltd., which owns Imperial Tobacco, says
Hagen.  Calgary used Imasco money to help fund a Faculty of Nursing
learning centre.  "The tobacco industry is very adept at getting in," says
Hagen. "We have to be forever vigilant."