A Canadian university wants to fill 75% of its new medical school with race and sexual orientation of candidates in mind – barring people from non “equity-deserving” groups from accessing a majority of the admission offers.
On social media, some have accused the Toronto Metropolitan University’s application policy for entry into its medical program of openly discriminating against people based on identifiable differences such as race and sexual orientation.
TMU’s selection process for the 2025 intake of its medical program states that 75% of the 94 seats the program offers are expected to be taken from either the school’s Indigenous, Black or other “equity-deserving” admissions pathways.
“Our admissions pathways are designed to account for systemic bias in applicant review processes and eliminate barriers to success for these groups in the medical school admissions process,” Dr. Dominick Shelton, interim assistant dean of recruitment and admissions, said on the school website. “We are also committed to ensuring that the pathways provide an inclusive and supportive process for applicants from these groups.”
The standard for undergraduate programs is that applicants must have a minimum Grade Point Average of 3.3 to be considered for admission, and this is still the case for students applying in the general admissions stream.
For applicants applying through the new admissions pathways, however, those who are Indigenous, Black or from “equity-deserving” groups may not need to meet the same standard of success as those in the general admissions stream.
“In exceptional circumstances, applicants in the three admissions pathways (Indigenous, Black, and Equity-Deserving) with a GPA below the minimum requirement of 3.3 may have their application considered for admission by the relevant pathway subcommittee,” it said.
Under each of the diversity, equity and inclusion pathways to the program, applicants are required to write a 500- 1000-word essay about their identity as members of the desired groups.
The school encourages applicants who haven’t met the 3.3 GPA minimum academic standard to indicate their barriers due to their Indigenous, Black, or “equity-deserving” identity, resulting in poor academic performance.
Students in the new application streams have to provide documents, such as proof of refugee status or medical notes, attestation from community members they identify with, or just a written acknowledgement that they identify if documentation is not appropriate.
The school states that it has a right to revoke admissions if someone is found to have committed fraud in their application.
The school provides examples of equity-deserving groups but leaves the application open for those who believe in an equity-deserving group that’s not mentioned.
“Racialized people, racialized immigrants and children of racialized immigrants,” people with disabilities, neurodivergence or those living with chronic health conditions, people who identify as part of the “2SLGBTQ+ community or gender or sexual minority,” and more are included in as examples of equity-deserving groups.
Others included students from“non-traditional educational pathways” as well as individuals with “lived experiences” of poverty or low socioeconomic status or experienced “socio-cultural barriers such as being on the child welfare system or having “precarious housing.”
“It’s disheartening to see that people will miss out on opportunities because of a racist and discriminatory process,” a paramedic who alerted True North to the policy said. “How can the public trust their medical professionals are adequately trained if they are selected based on their ethnicity?”
The paramedic told True North that they wished to remain anonymous due to fear of reprisal in their professional life.
A further look at the course learning outcomes for the medical program shows a heavy focus on DEI idealogy in the first “phase” of the four-year undergraduate program.
“Students will acquire and apply knowledge, skills and abilities in the basic sciences and in clinical, social and health systems science,” it said. “Students will also deepen their understanding of anti-racism, equity and bias, as well as the systemic inequities driving health and healthcare disparities.”
True North requested comment from both TMU and the Ontario Minister for Colleges and Universities, Nolan Quinn.
Premier Doug Ford said he was “thrilled” that TMU School of Medicine officially became accredited at the end of September.
“This final hurdle paves the way for the first new medical school in the GTA in over 175 years, with new doctors set to graduate by spring 2026 to help connect more people to care in Ontario,” he said.
Well-known podcaster and psychologist Jordan Peterson said that discrimination based on race and sexual orientation will only lead to more division.
“Mr Ford, if this isn’t illegal, the laws against discrimination in Canada have become worthless. This will destroy the professions and foster racial hatred as that is its aim,” he said. “Stop it now. Return to merit.”