Nearly $1 million spend by Kwantlen Polytechnic student association sparks ministry investigation
Brenda Bailey, B.C.’s minister of finance, announced an investigation into the Kwantlen Student Association to determine whether there has been any misuse of funds
By J.J. Adams
Last updated 1 day ago
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The Kwantlen Polytechnic University Students Association is going under the microscope.
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Brenda Bailey, B.C.’s minister of finance, announced late Friday afternoon an investigation under the Societies Act related to the Kwantlen Student Association “to determine whether there has been any misuse of funds or other problematic conduct.”
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In February, KPU’s student newspaper, The Runner, reported that the student association had spent close to $1 million on wages and benefits in 2025, more than any other post-secondary institution’s student council in the province. The report said compensation had reached $947,848, more than $230,000 over budget.
By comparison, wages and benefits for student associations at UBC, SFU and UVic ranged from $220,150 to $368,461, according to the report.
The Finance Ministry said the investigation was initiated after Bailey received a report from the Registrar of Companies. According to the news release, a ministerial order prohibits the Kwantlen Student Association from disposing of, dealing with or diminishing the value of any of its assets except as authorized by the order. The association may spend reasonable amounts on proper operational expenses.
It also stated actions will be taken to protect the student association and its members pending the investigation.
Zena Mitchell, KPU’s vice-president of students, said in a statement the university welcomed the government’s actions.
“The KSA is an independent society governed under the Societies Act and is therefore accountable to its members, who are KPU students. KPU itself is not a member of the KSA. The university reserves further comment.”
The KSA has been a source of controversy over the years. In 2011, the students voted 352-0 to remove 13 directors after accusations of using the association as a “personal piggy bank” following a financial review revealing thousands of dollars doled out in loans, investments and undocumented payments. That led to a civil lawsuit to recover $1 million of student fees. It was later dropped by the incoming student association, which controversially included some relatives of the defendants in its ranks.
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The Runner also reported the KSA was embroiled in three separate civil suits in 2025 alone, including claims of corruption, financial mismanagement and defamation.
Kwantlen has also been facing other issues recently, including the mysterious firing of newly hired president Bruce Choy, after weeks of an equally mysterious and unexplained absence. The school is also facing heavy layoffs as the precipitous drop in international enrolment has contributed to a sharp decline in revenue.
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