UNCEDED SQUAMISH, TSLEIL-WAUTUTH, AND MUSQUEAM TERRITORIES/VANCOUVER, BC - BC students are very concerned by the hurtful comments made by the Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills regarding pre-1948 Palestine, and alleged interference by the Minister into the employment relationship of an individual faculty member at Langara College. The Alliance of BC Students is calling for an investigation into the matter to preserve the integrity of the post-secondary education system.
MINISTER’S RECENT COMMENTS HURTFUL, DIVISIVE IN TIME WHEN LEADERSHIP IS NEEDED
The Minister of Post-Secondary Education’s recent comments were harmful to many communities, especially Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim students. The Alliance of BC Students (ABCS) has heard concerns from many students who feel the comments demonstrate that their people and history are not important to the provincial government. “When the Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills makes generalizations about young people and uses racist and colonial tropes when talking about the heritage of Palestinian and Arab students, it is not easy for anyone to believe the provincial government cares about them or really understands their challenges,” said Manpreet, Chairperson of the ABCS.
At a time when anti-Palestinian, anti-Arab, Islamophobic, and antisemitic incidents of racism and violence are increasing, the safety of students should be the Minister’s first priority. It is irresponsible to make hurtful, inaccurate, and inappropriate comments that further divide and endanger students on campuses. The provincial government must work to bring communities together and support students, student organizations, and post-secondary institutions. The provincial government and the Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills should be leading these efforts instead of hindering them. The generalizations made about 18-34 year olds’ knowledge and acceptance of the Holocaust were also inaccurate and insensitive, especially for a minister who works closely with this age group on a regular basis.
“We are in desperate need of efforts from the provincial government to keep all students safe, and there has been a lack of leadership,” said Joshua Millard, Executive Director of the Alliance of BC Students. “It is inappropriate for any minister, let alone the Minister of Post-Secondary Education, to repeat racist tropes that have been used to justify colonization, and inaccurately portray the history of Palestinian and Arab students so casually. These comments do nothing to keep students safe, and increase division at a time when tensions are running extremely high.” The tropes included in the Minister’s comments have been repeatedly used to cause harm to Indigenous communities all over the world, including here in BC. Reconciliation and anti-racism are cornerstones of the ABCS’s advocacy to make BC post-secondary education more accessible and equitable; incidents like this make students wonder if the province shares these priorities.
On February 1st and February 5th, 2024, Minister Robinson issued apologies for her comments. “Though we acknowledge the Minister’s apologies and the Premier’s comments, we need to see a real commitment from the Minister and this government that the safety of all students is guaranteed,” said Manpreet. “Students need to see that the Minister understands why her words were inappropriate, inaccurate, hurtful, and divisive.”
STUDENTS CONCERNED BY ALLEGED MISUSE OF MINISTERIAL AUTHORITY
BC students are also extremely concerned by the allegations laid out in statements by the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators, the Canadian Association of University Teachers, and the Confederation of University Faculty Associations of BC in recent days. The statements allege that Minister Robinson used her ministerial authority to interfere in the employment relationship between Langara College and an individual faculty member. “If the Minister of Post-Secondary Education intervened in such a way, it would be unprecedented and very concerning,” said Joshua Millard. The Alliance of BC Students is calling on the Province to investigate the situation to preserve the integrity of the post-secondary education system. “We need to know exactly what happened,” said Manpreet. “The idea that ministerial authority could be used to intervene in employment related matters at a post-secondary institution is an extremely serious matter. Students and faculty need to know that their rights will be protected, and that any such incidents will be addressed using appropriate mechanisms.”
Students are concerned that any such interventions, if left unaddressed, could happen again. The ABCS is calling on the Premier to initiate a full, transparent, public investigation into the allegations to restore students’ confidence in the relationship between the Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills and BC’s post-secondary education system. “Regardless of who occupies the role of Minister of Post-Secondary Education, students are concerned about the implications of ministerial intervention at the institution level,” said Joshua Millard. “If the Minister of Post-Secondary Education has the ability to use their authority inappropriately, now or in the future, the integrity of BC’s post-secondary education system will be at risk. This must be investigated and there must be mechanisms in place to prevent inappropriate interventions from occurring.”
For more information please contact:
Manpreet
Chairperson
Pronouns: she/her
Alliance of British Columbia Students
e: chairperson@bcstudents.ca
Joshua Millard
Executive Director
Pronouns: he/him
Alliance of British Columbia Students
c: (604) 600-6732
e: jmillard@bcstudents.ca
The Alliance of British Columbia Students is a non-partisan society of student associations representing undergraduate, graduate, and trades students from across the province that exists to advocate on issues that affect post-secondary students in British Columbia.