[9] In January 2020, Saini returned once more to Canada to begin his mandate as the 12th president and vice-chancellor of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

[10] During this time, he led the University at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, which necessitated the conversion of all in-person learning at Dalhousie to remote instruction.

[15] In his inaugural address as chair, Saini emphasized the unique role of universities in maintaining a prosperous Canadian society.

[21] In February 2024 it was announced that McGill University and Concordia were both taking legal action against the province in response to a significant drop in applicants.

[24] About this time, a professor at the school stated of Saini that the faculty was "strongly opposed to our university administration's relentless campaign against the students.

"[25] The Globe and Mail reported that as of the end of May 2024, citing tactics he felt were designed to “threaten, coerce and scare people,” Saini continued to push the law enforcement to try and intervene despite them informing him that nothing illegal was occurring.

[28] On 6 June 2024, Saini requested police intervention to clear the protest occurring in the James administration building.

The Breach wrote that Saini had planted false stories that students called for violence and prevented administrators from leaving the building.