UPDATE: March 13, 10:20 p.m.
The UBC Okanagan Students' Union Board of Directors met on Thursday evening to review it's decision to deny the Okanagan Conservative Club's application to be an official campus club.
"After careful consideration, the Board has ratified the club, ensuring that the decision was made in alignment with our values of equity, inclusion and respect for all students," said the Students' Union in a statement posted to Instagram.
The Okanagan Conservative Club said it commends the Students' Union for "making the right decision 鈥� one that upholds fairness, inclusivity and the fundamental right of students to organize and engage in political discourse on campus."
The club also said it is committed to fostering a respectful and inclusive environment for all people and does not condone bullying or harassment in any form.
UPDATE: March 13, 3:15 p.m.
Politicians, campus clubs and members of the public have spoken out to condemn the UBC Okanagan Student Union's (SUO) decision to deny official club status to the UBCO Conservatives Club.
According to an email from the Student Union that was leaked on X, the Conservative Club's application was rejected after "concerns were raised regarding the political stance of the party your club would represent," despite the fact that there is a Young Liberals Club at UBCO.
The directors suggested that the students applying to form the Conservatives Club "take a more neutral stance to ensure inclusivity," saying that the SUO's concerns relate to certain views associated with the political party could make UBCO students feel excluded or unwelcome.
The Young Liberals of Canada Okanagan, are now standing in support of an official campus Conservative Club.
"There is indefensible hypocrisy evident in their supporting our Liberal club to exist. The freedom to express diverse opinions on our campus is crucial. It is important for all of us to be exposed to and challenged by ideas we may not agree with," said the Young Liberals of Canada Okanagan in a statement on Instagram.
The Conservative Club said that it hopes the Students' Union will reverse its decision, grant ratification of the club, and apologize to members for the unfair treatment.
The UBCO Students' Union will be holding a meeting on March 13, at 6 p.m. to "carefully consider its position on the matter."
Original:
A leaked email posted to X regarding the Student Union at UBC Okanagan has caught the attention of B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad.
On Wednesday night (March 12), Jonathan Kay, an advisor for the free speech union of Canada, posted a screenshot to X of an email from the Students' Union UBC Okanagan (SUO) rejecting a student's application to create their own Conservative Party Club in the union.
The reasons for denying the application for a Conservative Party Club on campus had to do with some directors' concerns with certain views of the party, 鈥減articularly regarding the Black and LGBTQ+ communities - could make students from these groups feel excluded or unwelcome.鈥�
It was suggested that the club take a more neutral stance to ensure inclusivity.
The email also stated that there was no appeal process for the board鈥檚 decision at this time. However, since the email was leaked it is now being reported that the SUO has been called into an emergency board meeting on the matter.
In a SUO release, it stated it remains committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse campus environment where all students feel respected and heard.
The SUO is non-partisan and claims it supports open dialogue and differing perspectives.
The student union at @ubcokanagan (part of @UBC) denied an application for a student Conservative Party Club. And amazingly, the student union鈥檚 VP Internal flat out admitted that the decision was made on the basis of partisan political considerations pic.twitter.com/YPzHsrN0Rx
鈥� Jonathan Kay (@jonkay) March 13, 2025
After posted on X, this response from the SUO gained some traction, including the eye of Rustad.
"This is the inevitable result of out of control radical leftist activism in BC鈥檚 academia. No woke, activist student council should be allowed to determine which political parties students can join or associate with," he stated on X.
Adding, UBCO students must be allowed to opt-out of union dues because of their "broken union".
This is the inevitable result of out of control radical leftist activism in BC鈥檚 academia.
鈥� John Rustad (@JohnRustad4BC) March 13, 2025
No woke, activist student council should be allowed to determine which political parties students can join or associate with.
UBCO students must be allowed to opt-out of union dues for鈥� https://t.co/IuOy3JIcwg
Conservative MP for 麻豆精选- Lake Country Tracy Gray also called out the SUO for denying the application.
"The story coming out from UBCO of a conservative campus club鈥檚 ratification being denied is disturbing. There are other political clubs at UBCO and UBC. Universities should be a place of open discussion of ideas for students, not censorship. I hope this decision is reversed," she said on X.
In a response to Black Press Media, president of the Okanagan Conservative Club Christian van Mook Smith said the club was, 鈥渟eeking ratification as an official campus club to provide students of a conservative sensibility a place for free and respectful political discourse, as had been provided to other students who support other political parties.鈥�
鈥淚t is our hope that the Student's Union Okanagan of UBC reverses its decision and apologizes to our members for this unfair treatment. We are currently seeking advice on all avenues that may be available to us. The Okanagan Conservative Club continues to welcome all students who wish to join and support the conservative movement in Canada,鈥� stated van Mook Smith.
van Mook Smith declined any further interviews at this time.
The SUO will be issuing a statement after its board deliberations.
UBCO's Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Lesley Cormack also released a statement on the matter, saying they are aware of the recent decision by the SUO.
Cormack confirmed the SUO is an independent student-led organization that has its own elected Board of Directors and governance structures. Because of this, the SUO can make its own decisions with respect to student club ratification and allocation of student union resources.
"UBC Okanagan stands firmly behind its responsibility to uphold its principles of free, lawful, and respectful expression of all views and opinions, even those with which some may disagree," said Cormack. "These principles are articulated in the Okanagan Senate Statement on Academic Freedom, which clearly states that UBC must be an open and inclusive forum where members of the University have the freedom 鈥榯o engage in full and unrestricted consideration of any opinion.鈥�"
These principles are extended to students, faculty, and staff as they have the right to engage and partake in politically affiliated clubs and groups.
"At UBCO, we believe that civil discourse and robust debate are not only fundamental to our academic mission but core also to our role in Canadian society as a place of higher learning and understanding of all points of view," added Cormack.
UBC and UBCO are also under BC's University Act, meaning both campuses are to be non-political.
