B.C. student unions struggle with transparency, prompting calls for legal reform

By SAGE SMITH

The provincial legislation that rules student unions is confusing, ineffective and unenforceable, says a longtime freedom of information journalist and Langara graduate.

“The law is broken,” said Stanley Tromp.

Tromp said students should ask for reform of the Societies Act that governs B.C. student unions.

The Societies Act is the provincial legislation that regulates B.C. non-profits, societies and student unions. All bylaws created by student unions must be in accordance with this act.

Tromp said students should bypass the recently re-elected NDP provincial government, which he called friendly to student unions, and approach the B.C. ombudsman and the B.C. auditor general.

“These are independent officers of the legislature, such as the information privacy commissioner and they do not report to the NDP government,” said Tromp.

Kwantlen students are concerned

Tromp, a longtime critic of the LSU, also noted the ongoing controversy with the student union at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, where the student union attempted to close down the student paper.

Claudia Culley, a Kwantlen Polytechnic University student and editor-in-chief of the student-run newspaper, The Runner, said the paper and the Kwantlen Student Association have a “rocky relationship.”

Coverage by The Runner of the student union has included the alleged mismanagement of $2 million, the attempt to repeal and replace all bylaws and the use of $20,000 for a two-day retreat.

Things came to a head in September when a Kwantlen student organized a petition to pressure The Runner to delete all references to the Kwantlen Student Association, both past and present, in its news coverage.

Sophie Hansen, a former Kwantlen journalism student, said stronger laws and oversight for student unions are necessary.

“When you’re viewing something like journalism as a threat, it makes you question what’s happening behind closed doors,” Hansen said.

“I want to know how they are handling their money and what the school is doing about it,” she said.

Tromp said because of the ineffectiveness of the Societies Act,  Langara students have struggled for decades with the LSU for what he called undemocratic elections, lack of transparency and ignoring student concerns.

LSU Bylaws

In previous years, Voice reporters have been stymied in attempts to get information from the LSU, such as financial documents and meeting minutes. Copying documents has been restricted and continues to be limited.

While the Societies Act says student unions must provide copies of any records that members are entitled to, LSU bylaws say that they cannot be reproduced “without the express written consent of the president or vice president finance & administration.”

The LSU said in an email it prioritizes “transparency and compliance with the Societies Act … This is simply an internal step to verify records and facilitate accurate communication rather than limit accessibility.”

Langara instructor speaks out

Bryan Breguet, Langara economics instructor and former candidate in the provincial election, agreed with students during a recent all-candidates forum about their complaints of LSU undemocratic practices. He called the Societies Act broken.

“They’re 100 per cent right. The LSU is completely broken,” he said.

He called the recent LSU election “a scam process.”

“We need reform,” Breguet said.

Video: Student unions across B.C. are struggling with undemocratic practices causing members to speak out.