Bermudian student Stephanie Lee's life is "in limbo" due to a prolonged faculty strike at her Canadian university – but she is firmly against a move to force lecturers back to work.

Ms Lee is one of 35 students from the Island who have been unable to attend classes at York University in Toronto since industrial action began there at the start of November.

Some have returned to Bermuda to work while they wait for the row to be resolved while others, including Ms Lee, have opted to wait it out in chilly Toronto.

She told The Royal Gazette: "What I really want is for the...Island to have the right information on this strike and know that their children are safe, trying to stay warm and busy."

Back-to-work legislation was introduced by the Ontario Government at an emergency sitting. Aimed at getting 45,000-plus students at Canada's third largest university back in class early next week, it is expected to pass into law today.

But the union representing the faculty workers, who want longer contracts, more job security and better pay, has threatened to launch a legal challenge against it, which could prolong the 12-week strike and mean students have to retake the entire academic year.

A class lawsuit for compensation on behalf of 1,000 students has already been filed and the university's student union is calling for a rebate on fees.

Ms Lee, who is studying culture and expression, said she was completely against the legislature forcing workers back to class "mostly because it would dismantle the entire democratic system that this university and this country is based on".

She said the strike by about 3,300 part-time and contract workers raised far bigger issues than just students being out of school.

"We are only students for what is comparatively two weeks in the rest of our lives. I would rather know that when I get into the workforce I can be assured that my rights as a citizen are protected, than have grumpy teachers to finish a degree."

The 20-year-old, from Sandys, said she was concerned about her graduation being put back a year if the academic year was lost. But she would still prefer teachers at York to return to work when they have negotiated a settlement agreeable to them.