Degrees for billionaires

St. F.X. prof condemns university for awarding honorary degrees after major donations

A professor is criticizing St. Francis Xavier University for awarding honorary degrees to two controversial billionaires who made donations to the school’s Brian Mulroney Institute of Government.

Peter McInnis, chair of the school’s history department, says there appears to be a quid pro quo arrangement whereby some large contributors to the Nova Scotia university are rewarded with honorary doctorates

“Our tradition at St. F.X. is one of community activism and progressive social justice,” he said Thursday.

“Some of these donations are at odds with that. Some of this money has been hidden from usual sources of taxes and other kinds of obligations all of us have as citizens.”

McInnis questioned the “moral efficacy” of the donations, and said there should be greater scrutiny of the possible strings attached to donations and how honorary degrees are conferred.

Victor Dahdaleh and Wafic Said received honorary degrees from the Antigonish, N.S., university within months of major donations to the Mulroney Institute.

An investigation by the Toronto Star and CBC/Radio-Canada said the two men gave a combined $5.5 million, and both operated corporations in tax-free offshore jurisdictions.

Dahdaleh was charged but acquitted in Britain on bribery and corruption charges in 2012, while Said is a colourful and well-connected former arms broker.

Former prime minister Brian Mulroney, who fundraised $100 million for his alma mater from private and public sources, could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Kent MacDonald, St. F.X. president and vice-chancellor, said in an emailed statement that Mulroney took on the fundraising challenge at the university’s request.