UBC’s Land Acknowledgments Are Political Declarations, Not Legal Facts – FCPP

May 4, 2025

UBC faces a lawsuit from professors and a PhD graduate claiming the university’s land acknowledgments and EDI mandates violate its legal duty to remain non political. Senior Fellow Hymie Rubenstein highlights how UBC’s declarations of “unceded” land go beyond symbolism, implying legal conclusions that Canadian courts have not affirmed. The case questions whether universities can impose political orthodoxy without breaching legal neutrality.

Four University of British Columbia professors and a recent PhD graduate have filed a lawsuit against the university, alleging that its Indigenous-focused land acknowledgments and equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) hiring requirements violate the institution’s legal obligation to remain “non-sectarian and non-political,” as mandated by section 66 of the University Act.

Read More: https://fcpp.org/2025/05/04/ubcs-land-acknowledgments-are-political-declarations-not-legal-facts/