A discussion of the history and status of academic freedom in the context of Canadian universities finds that over time, academic freedom has been expanded to include a broad range of behavior and a wide range of freedom of speech. Tenure has come to mean the right of employment until death, resignation, or retirement, unless cause for dismissal can be established in a court of academic peers. While unionization and collective bargaining are not necessarily antithetical to academic freedom, full-blown unionization, collective bargaining, and the right to strike do stand in potential conflict with the principles of academic self-government upon which academic freedom rests. The concept of academic freedom needs to be re-examined because the balance between rights and responsibilities inherent in the idea is under stress, and academic freedom must be balanced with the commitment of faculty members to high standards of scholarship and productivity in teaching and research. Academic freedom must also be reconciled with demands for enhanced employment equity through affirmative action. Challenges associated with political correctness have made review of the concept even more important. (Author/MSE)