ABCS takes fight for student housing to B.C. legislature

Student group makes headway in Victoria with public demonstration

Members of the Kwantlen Student Association joined with other Alliance of British Columbia Students associations in Victoria to push for more student housing in B.C. The rally was held outside the the legislature buildings on Sept. 27. ABCS members were met during the demonstration by opposition politicians—including B.C. leader of the opposition John Horgan—as well as several media outlets.

“We believed it was necessary to show up on the lawn of the legislature, at the front door of government and let them know that they need to do something about [student housing] urgently,” says KSA Vice President External Alex McGowan.

The Alliance of British Columbia Students is in the midst of a considerable push for more student housing in the Lower Mainland, arguing that the shortage of housing is creating considerable barriers to higher education and keeping students from achieving financial independence. The ABCS understands that in order for post-secondary institutions to feasibly build this housing, the B.C. government would have to pass legislation allowing them to take on debt.

The KSA sent Alex McGowan, Tanvir Singh, Natasha Lopes, Alex Lomelino, and Caitlin McCutchen to Victoria, feeling it was important for KPU students to be among the voices outside of the legislature.

“We recognize that the student housing issue has been really important for a long time now,” says McGowan. “It’s clear that we need more student housing in this province, but what has been particularly new is the level of crisis that we’ve seen where rental market vacancies have been extremely low and there’s just no new student housing, so we so believe that it’s necessary to amp up the pressure.”

Also present at the demonstration were members of Union of B.C. Municipalities, the organisation that represents municipal governments across the province. McGowan says KSA members made a point of speaking to representatives of the UBCM, recognizing them by their nametags.

“Whenever we saw someone with that name tag we flagged then down and said ‘hey, let’s talk about student housing,’” says McGowan.

The UBCM evidently heeded these conversations with ABCS reps, because shortly after the demonstration, the UBCM passed an emergency resolution in support of allowing post-secondary institutions to take on debt. This ensures that the ABCS will have municipal support in their ongoing push for this measure.

While no members of the B.C. Liberals met with demonstrators outside the legislature, ABSC members were invited to a meeting with Andrew Wilkinson, B.C. Minister of Advanced Education in response to the demonstration. According to McGowan who was present at the meeting. The Advanced Education Minister heard the group’s concerns and seemed receptive the ABCS’s calls.

“They are definitely hearing the message loud and clear and it’s made me confident that message is getting across and our campaign has been successful,” says McGowan.

The Advanced Education Minister later reiterated a willingness to have a conversation on student housing to the press.

“We are working on that very idea right now,” Wilkinson told the press. “We are hoping to bring it into focus in the near future.”

However, the Minister also expressed concern about the question of allowing post-secondary institutions to take on debt. Telling the press, “We are very concerned not to grow that debt irresponsibility because it would drive up our interest rates.”