Advanced Education Minister Amrik Virk has reversed his decision regarding the approval of the proposed law school at Trinity Western University, the provincial government announced December 11.
Virk has revoked his approval of the school, approximately one year after he had initially consented to allow TWU to offer a law degree.
Virk said his decision was based on the October 31 vote by the Law Society of British Columbia that found the majority of members do not believe graduates of the proposed institition should be able to practice law in B.C.
This means that the school is not permitted to enrol any students into the proposed program.
"The current uncertainty over the status of the regulatory body approval means prospective graduates may not be able to be called to the bar, or practise law, in British Columbia,” Virk said.
“This is a significant change to the context in which I made my original decision.”
Bob Kuhn, president of TWU, said he is disappointed with the decision.
“It is difficult to conceive of a justifiable basis for the minister to have revoked his approval of the school of law program,” he said. “We remain committed to having a school of law and now have to carefully consider all our options.”
Kuhn went on to say that the school does not wish to pursue further legal action.
The proposed school has faced opposition from many groups, in particular the gay and lesbian community, because of TWU’s requirement that all students sign a “community covenant” that states all students must abstain from “sexual intimacy that violates the sacredness of marriage between a man and a woman.”
Virk said that once all legal issues have been resolved, the school will be free to request consent.
