Kwantlen’s controversial research fee

Tsawwassen Southland’s community puts pressure on the university to rethink it’s $50,000 deal with local real estate developer

By Mitch Thompson

Kwantlen Polytechnic University will be reviewing the decision to accept a $50,000 research fee from the Century Group for the research on the company’s controversial Southlands development proposal. A proposal the school was also promoting.

In a press release on July 20th, Kwantlen president David Atkinson ordered a probe to into the circumstances surrounding the fee, according to The Province.

Until the release, the university’s position had been that a bankroll from the real estate development company was simply funding, and did not affect the independent nature of the research. This didn’t calm members of the Tsawwassen Area Plan Committee or the community, who accused Kwantlen of lobbying.

On Dec. 3, 2009, Kent Mullinix and Arthur Fallick from the Kwantlen horticulture department, gave a presentation to the Area Plan Committee extolling the virtues of the Century Group proposal.

The Century Group wishes to develop the Southlands, 218-hectares of unused farmland in southeast Tsawwassen, with 1,900 houses and large tracts of land for urban farms and parks. So far the plan has met with stiff resistance from the local community.

Trouble for the university started when a Freedom of Information request made by opponents of the development uncovered a memorandum of understanding signed by Atkinson and Century Group president Sean Hodgins seven months prior to the Mullinix/Fallick presentation.

An agreement that Kwantlen did not reveal to the Area Plan Committee.

The document says, through the Institute for Sustainable Horticulture, Kwantlen “agrees to collaborate with the Century Group to create a complete and sustainable community on the Southlands property.”

In the memo, Kwantlen commits to “[provide]…research expertise on the Southlands land use proposal.” In return, the Century Group would provide an undisclosed research fee – later determined by The Province to be $50,000 over two years.

As well, should the plan go through, Kwantlen would help create and gain access to a research facility on the Southlands, along with an endowment from the Century Group to the university. In an interview with The Province, Jason Dyer – executive director for research at Kwantlen – said the endowment would likely be enough to fund a university salary: $100,000 plus.

A recent Ipsos Reid polling showed that over 60 per cent of residential respondents in the Tsawwassen area are against development of any kind in the Southlands.

Opponents of the plan say the area is still viable for farming, and is integral to the Pacific Flyway, the major migratory route for North American birds.

The final report and recommendation of the Area Committee is expected on Aug. 30.