December 3, 2024

On Friday, November 29, 2024, the Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) and Simon Fraser University (SFU) executives met with Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills Honourable Anne Kang, Parliamentary Secretary for Asia Pacific Trade Paul Choi, and Deputy Chair of the BC Government Caucus Rohini Arora to discuss student housing and key priorities in funding the education sector and addressing affordability challenges for students.

The delegation toured SFU’s student housing facilities, focusing on the university’s commitment to sustainability through Passive House construction standards. Minister Kang, a staunch advocate for student rights, shares these values, emphasizing the importance of sustainable building practices. SFU President Joy Johnson highlighted that the university’s Passive House constructions in Phases 2 and 3 of the SFU residences align with government funding requirements, balancing affordability with the future needs of the SFU community.

SFSS President and SFU Board Member Emmanuel Adegboyega underscored the necessity of affordable and inclusive student housing in Phase 3 to address the housing needs of upper-year students, who are currently most affected by long housing waitlists. Phase 3 is an eight-storey building that will include 445 new beds for upper-year undergraduates, with self-contained studio and quad units, each featuring its own kitchen and washroom facilities.

As British Columbia’s post-secondary sector faces mounting budgetary pressures and the challenge of articulating the value of world-class education, SFSS will look to Secretary Paul Choi for advocacy and support. His experience as a former board member of one of BC’s public universities positions him as a valuable ally in championing the value of post-secondary students in British Columbia and across the Asia-Pacific.

From Left to Right: SFSS VP Events Chitransh Motwani, SFSS VP Internal Samuel Killawee, SFSS President Emmanuel Adegboyega, SFSS VP External Joel Gilani, Deputy BC Caucus Chair Rohini Arora, Parliamentary Secretary for Asia-Pacific Trade Paul Choi, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills Honourable Anne Kang, SFU President Joy Johnson, GSS Director of Academic Relations Christopher Lacroix, SFSS VP Equity Chloe Arneson. The group met to discuss key priorities such as student housing, affordability, and sustainable development, following a tour of SFU’s Passive House student housing facilities.

Similarly, Deputy Chair Rohini Arora has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to engaging with SFU’s student body. In an increasingly polarized environment, the SFSS is proud to have Burnaby East represented by an MLA who prioritizes inclusivity and actively advocates for the needs and concerns of students.

SFSS Vice President External, Joel Gilani, emphasized the significant financial strain faced by SFU students due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. The SFSS advocacy agenda includes urgent priorities such as affordable student housing and vacancy control, improved access to healthcare and mental health resources on campus, food security initiatives, and addressing rising tuition fees alongside reduced provincial funding. The SFSS also continues to advocate for renewed international tuition caps and seeks to establish robust public-private partnerships. These efforts aim to enhance student competitiveness in the workforce, promote ethical job creation across BC, and empower student communities province-wide.

The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to address these critical priorities, working collaboratively to improve the student experience while preserving the quality and accessibility of post-secondary education in British Columbia.