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In the midst of a number of issues surrounding the University of Regina Students’ Union, some students are supporting the University of Regina’s decision to terminate its agreement to collect student fees on behalf of the union.
In a notice sent out on Wednesday, U of R President Jeff Keshen said the decision to cut the fee collection agreement came after it “lost confidence” in URSU’s ability to serve and represent students based on its financial and governing decisions.
Amanda Leader, a student at both the First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv) and the U of R, said this is a chance for the students’ union and the U of R to remodel its relationship with FNUniv students to better align with protected treaty rights.
“I do think that it’s a good thing that the university has stepped in because there’s numerous concerns going on,” she said. “It can’t go untouched like it has for numerous years.”
Amanda Leader, a First Nations University of Canada student, wants to more actions better reflect protected treaty rights. (Gillian Massie/ 980 CJME)
Leader has concerns about URSU collecting fees from First Nation and Inuit students for its health and dental program. The federal government already provides coverage for all First Nations and Inuit people through Non-Insured Health Benefits Program.
“These are things that our ancestors have fought for to make sure that they were in our treaty rights,” Leader said. “Now we’re being charged for it again by a student union that’s supposed to support us.”
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All students at the university and FNUniv are charged dental and health fees with the option to opt out if they have other arrangements, but Leader does not believe it’s been effectively communicated by URSU or the university.
“It’s like we’re being charged double at times, because a lot of students here at the First Nations University don’t know that they have to opt out,” she said. “It’s not something that’s communicated to our students.”
Leader has chosen to opt out of both the health and dental programs, which saved her a total of $225.85.
UR Pride weighs in
Style Stenberg, a former URSU board member and current vice-president at UR Pride, said this is a step to get the students’ union back on track.
“This news is not unexpected, but this news is also a breath of fresh air,” he said.
Stenberg said this is a necessary action on behalf of the university to help the students’ union realign with the interests of students on campus.
Stenberg alleged that UR Pride is still owed all its 2024 student fees that URSU is supposed to distribute.
For much of 2024, Stenberg said UR Pride was not in compliance with URSU’s service and support agreement, but by the end of the year, it had delivered the internal audit, budget and programming plans required to receive the fees.
The funds owed to UR Pride were supposed to be held in a trust by URSU, and released once UR Pride was back in compliance, Stenberg said, none of its core funding for 2024 or 2025 has been delivered to date.
“It’s a catch-22, because URSU has accused UR Pride of not providing core funding and not delivering on our mandate, and our mission, and our vision,” he said. “Yet, it’s very difficult to do that when funds are being withheld.”
Stenberg said UR Pride is owed over $100,000 in student fees to date. UR Pride has filed a legal claim over the dispute with URSU over fees.
In an emailed statement, URSU said it cannot comment on the matter of UR Pride’s funding because it is now before the court, and it can’t comment on an ongoing legal matter.
URSU said it had not received its fees for 2025 from the U of R for the Winter Semester at this point.
“The decision regarding the disbursement of funds to student centres for 2025 will be made once we receive our funds, subject to the respective agreements with the centres,” the statement read.
The university will continue to collect student fees to provide core student services, but will not send them to the students’ union past August 31. It said it will come out with more details on how it will proceed within the coming months.
University staff union says decision leaves workers “in the lurch”
Members of CUPE Local 1486 said the decision leaves workers in a position of financial uncertainty. It wants the U of R to take on payroll to make sure workers providing student services like health, dental and transit plans can continue.
The University of Regina Students’ Union head office located on the second floor of the Dr.William Riddell Centre. (Gillian Massie/ 980 CJME)
CUPE said it has been monitoring URSU’s governance and financial issues for some time.
“The University should have taken the time to come up with a more robust plan that does not leave students and workers in the lurch,” it read.
In an emailed statement, URSU said it recognized the U of R’s concerns.
“Our hope was and still is to negotiate a resolution with the University of Regina that restores confidence to the student body and our partners on campus while ensuring the independence of student governance,” it wrote.
It said its services will continue as usual, but has no further comment at this time.
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