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Another club at the University of Regina has filed a legal claim against the students’ union.
The U of R Women’s Centre is taking the U of R Students Union (URSU) to court over claims that it hasn’t been paid a year’s worth of student fees of roughly $200,000.
Read More:
- University of Regina ends fee collection agreement with student union
- U of R president addresses concerns after URSU fee collection cut
- Students at U of R raise concerns over student union URSU
While funding is a major part of the legal dispute, it also centres around compliance with a contractual agreement and financial accountability.
URSU acknowledges certain allegations made by the Women’s Centre, like its history of providing funds to the club and the terms of the Service and Support Agreement, however it strongly denies any breach of contract, mishandling of funds or acting in bad faith.
The University of Regina Students’ Union has recently found itself in hot water and students are speaking up about it. (Gillian Massie/980 CJME)
URSU claims that the Women’s Centre has failed to comply with the terms of its funding agreement over several years. For example, it claims the group was inactive on social media platforms for long periods and did not have any significant workshops, training sessions or events.
As a result, URSU claims it is not legally obligated to make payments to the Women’s Centre.
URSU also said that the U of R has not paid the portion of student fees levied by the university for the 2025 winter semester, leaving them in “dire financial straits.”
URSU said the university’s failure to pay the portion of student fees has made it impossible to make payments to the Women’s Centre.
The Women’s Centre claims the student union has failed to provide a legal explanation for the withheld funds, negotiated in bad faith by attempting to defund the centre through a referendum and spreading misinformation about the centre’s operations.
As a result, the Women’s Centre claims it has suffered and will continue to suffer damages, but URSU denies this claim.
The Women’s Centre is seeking an interim and interlocutory injunction.
UR Pride also facing legal battles
Style Stenberg, a former URSU board member and current vice-president at UR Pride Centre for Sexuality and Gender Diversity, alleged that the club 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, and 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, 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.
Listen to Dr. Keshen on The Evan Bray Show:
U of R cuts fee collection with URSU
U of R announced recently it would end its fee collection agreement with the student union.
U of R President and Vice-Chancellor Jeff Keshen said in a statement it was due to a loss of confidence in URSU.
“Over the past several months, the university has tried to work with URSU leadership, offering financial and governance assistance.”
Steps were recommended but not taken after a review of the student union’s 2024 financial statement audit.
Students at the university have also been raising concerns about the student union when it comes to financial transparency, difficulty opting out of programs and misogyny.
— with files from 980 CJME’s Gillian Massie
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