However, we have reviewed the issues and made the decision that it is a better use of the University's time, energy and resources to focus on moving McMaster forward.

“The decision to release the contract still allows us to maintain our strong advocacy on the important principles that led us to challenge the order to release,” says Colum Bastable, Chair of McMaster's Board of Governors.

Peter George has been a faculty member at McMaster for 43 years. Upon the completion of his final term in 2010 he will have served as President for 15 years, the longest in McMaster's history.

“We believe Peter George is the finest president in the country and the contract reflects his unique skills, record of success and past experience. The contract also recognizes his leadership in doubling the University's operating budget, tripling the research budget and growing McMaster's endowment from about $100 million to more than $500 million,” says Bastable. “The agreement is in line with what would normally be included in a contract for a senior executive covering travel, a car allowance, memberships in clubs that allow the president to host guests on behalf of the University, a supplemental pension plan and other perquisites that would be expected in a presidential contract.”

Because the FIPPA request came from the media it's expected that the release of the contract will generate media coverage. Much of the focus will likely be on the practice by universities across the country to grant leaves after a faculty member has served in a senior administrative role. At McMaster tenure track faculty are granted a one-year research leave after six years, administrative positions include a one-year leave following a five-year term.

“Peter George had earned one year of leave for each of his first two terms in office although he never took the leave time,” says Bastable. “Dr. George voluntarily turned down an additional leave that would have followed his third presidential term. The contract includes an arrangement to pay the total value of the two earned leaves at a rate of approximately $100,000 per year for 14 years. A one-time payment certainly would have put a strain on the operating budget and the overall figure would have been significantly higher if Dr. George hadn't refused the third year of earned leave time. The payment over a number of years was an option that worked well for everyone.”

The president's contract is an agreement that is negotiated between the president and the Human Resource Committee of the Board of Governors. As with all contracts, no one component should be looked at in isolation as it is the overall balance of items that together meet the needs of both parties.

According to Bastable, “In offering Peter George a third term as president the Board strongly reaffirmed its confidence in his leadership and outstanding success in the growth and development of McMaster and the Board continues its strong support of Dr. George and the leadership of the University.”