‘Troubling’ disclosure failures at Kwantlen, says Finance Minister

VICTORIA – B.C.’s finance minister says he’s troubled by a report that concludes Kwantlen Polytechnic University failed to meet government disclosure requirements by topping up salaries of senior executives.

But Mike de Jong says the findings of his ministry’s report will not result in any sanctions or penalties against any individuals.

Instead, de Jong says the report recommends government employment bureaucrats at the Post-secondary Employers’ Association and the Public Sector Employer’s Council and staff within the Advanced Education Ministry conduct annual mandatory one-day disclosure and reporting sessions for executives handling employment issues.

The report also recommends board members at post-secondary institutions are aware of their responsibilities and obligations when it comes transparency in disclosing compensation agreements.

Opposition New Democrat advanced education critic David Eby regularly raised questions in the legislature about so-called side-deals considered in efforts by the Kwantlen board to hire top executives, including a new president.

Advanced Education Minister Amrik Virk said the deals were not hidden or disguised, saying $50,000 payments to the executives were considered pre-employment contracts.