There is a heavy dose of irony in play when the student union at UPEI is one of the groups calling on the provincial government to extend Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIPP) legislation to include the Island’s only university.
Last week, the student union joined the UPEI Faculty Association and CUPE 1870 to urge the province to add post-secondary institutions to the list of public bodies under the FOIPP Act. The recommendation is a good one, long overdue and widely supported across the province.
Also exempt from the legislation is Holland College and Island municipalities. UPEI is the only Canadian university not under FOIPP and P.E.I. is the only province where municipalities are not under such legislation.
Last fall, Karen Rose, the province's information and privacy commissioner, issued a report recommending that municipalities, post-secondary institutions and police should be included under FOIPP. Her report finally pushed government into action and a review was launched this year.
During a press conference last week, a student union representative said it was time to bring UPEI in line with every other province and territory in Canada. And since nearly half of UPEI’s revenues are derived from government funding, Islanders should have the right to access information about their post-secondary institutions.
It’s too bad the student union doesn’t apply some of that sound logic and correct perspective towards itself. For the past several months, the student union has been ensnared with resignations, impeachment motions and other disruptions which demand answers and accountability.
Yet at almost every turn, the student union has declined comment and refers media questions elsewhere. Students, university, province and Island taxpayers should know what the heck is going on. It’s called accountability and transparency, which is what the SU says it supports – at least for public consumption.
This is our institution of higher learning where freedom of thought and expression should be cradled and jealously protected – especially by students. The SU likes to point out the shortcomings of others but is not so ready to admit its own.
Problems started when student union president Hammad Ahmed resigned in January, for reasons that are unclear. Freshman Chelsea Perry was elected to replace him later that month and it’s interesting to see that her priorities included improving openness and transparency so students could see what council is doing.
Last week, a statement appeared on the student union website, where a group of unnamed councillors put forward a motion of impeachment against Perry. The student union said it wouldn't be providing further comment until after its next meeting March 25. Where is the transparency the union likes to brag about?
Perry’s first reaction was to resign but now she’s having second thoughts and is confident the motion will fail and she’ll be back on the job after March 25.
The unrest at UPEI should encourage government to fast-track FOIPP reforms. Yet, once again, the province seems to be wasting time and money with an unnecessary review of legislation when the conclusion is already blatantly obvious.
