Three universities that challenged a ruling by the B.C. property assessment review board, including Thompson Rivers University, have lost in B.C. Supreme Court.
TRU, Simon Fraser University and University of B.C. sought a review by the B.C. Supreme Court on whether commercial properties on campus are taxable.
The properties in question at TRU are Urban Market, Heroes Pub (now called The Den), Tim Hortons, International Cafe and Upper Level Cafe. All are operated by Aramark Canada Ltd.
The property-assessment board found the operators are running for-profit ventures and are not in a partnership or joint venture with the universities. The universities incur some overhead, however, including janitorial and facility costs.
B.C. Supreme Court Justice Ronald Skolrod declined to overturn the decision, arguing it is a reasonable interpretation that the properties are not held or controlled by the universities.
TRU’s vice-president of administration and finance, Matt Milovick, said the sum lost to taxation is not substantial, but otherwise would have gone into areas including teaching, research and student life.
Milovick said the decision does not impact the university’s community trust development, The Reach, noting future retail businesses will continue to pay tax as they normally would.
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