A scathing report by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation is taking aim at the expenses of BC’s university and college presidents over the past two fiscal years.
Vancouver Island University’s Ralph Nilson, included.
The CTF’s “Screwed U Dean’s List of Waste” pillories spending by presidents at 17 universities and colleges for things like first class flights and pricey hotels.
The CTF says Nilson spent thousands on trips abroad in 2012 & 2013. Dan Hurley, VIU’s Executive Director of University Relations, says travelling is part the job.
The CTF also criticizes Nilson for around $9,500 spent at Nanaimo’s Westwood Tennis Club, and more than $1,000 in cash advances. Hurley says the Tennis Club charges were for events and dinners hosted by Nilson for visitors and VIU staff over the course of two years, and the cash advances were for incidentals while travelling. He says the advances were paid back when Nilson got back to Canada.
The CTF takes a shot at the president of Capilano U, which has a campus on the Sunshine Coast, as well. They’re taking issue with a charge of $594.80 cents for an online ticket purchase in November 2013, because it doesn’t say what the event was.
