“It’s up to you now…”
Cast your vote to help shape transit access for every student at the Justice Institute of BC New Westminster Campus. Your voice determines whether the U-Pass BC Program comes to JIBC.
**Please note: this only applies to the New Westminster Campus at this time**
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A referendum or referenda (as well as General Meetings) is the highest decision-making authority of the Students’ Union. Voting during a referendum will be conducted by a third-party online voting system not connected to an institutional voting system.
About the program
What is U-Pass BC?
U-Pass BC is a subsidized, universal monthly transit pass program available to students at participating post-secondary institutions across Metro Vancouver. Delivered in partnership with TransLink and the Province of BC, it gives eligible students unlimited access to all TransLink transit services — buses, SkyTrain, and SeaBus — for a flat monthly fee that is a fraction of the regular cost.
Monthly U-Pass fee$47.85
Jan 2027 - Aug 27Regular 3-zone monthly pass$217.00
Adult fare, all zonesPotential monthly savings$170.10
Per eligible studentSavings per semester$680+
Over 4 monthsU-Pass BC is a mandatory, universal program by design — the collective participation of all eligible students is what keeps the monthly fee affordable. The more students participate, the lower the per-student cost remains for everyone.
Why Choose U-Pass?
This program keeps monthly transportation costs low for students who rely on the transit. By sharing the overall cost broadly, all students can benefit from a discounted rate
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Full transit access
Unlimited bus, SkyTrain, and SeaBus across all three Translink zones, 7 days a week.
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Discounted Fare
Ride the West Coast Express at a discounted rate. Store value and WCE add-on required.
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HandyDART included
Eligible students can also use HandyDART services with their U-Pass Compass Card.
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Eco-friendly
Reduces car dependency and supports greener commuting across Metro Vancouver.
Why This Matters Now?
JIBC is the only public institution in Metro Vancouver without U-Pass BC
⚠️ JIBC students are being left behind ⚠️
Every other public post-secondary institution serving Metro Vancouver students - UBC, SFU, BCIT, Douglas College, VCC, Langara, Kwantlen, Capilano, and more - already offers U-Pass BC to their students. JIBC is currently the only exception. This means JIBC students pay significantly more for the same transit services their peers at other institutions access at a subsidized rate.
U-Pass vs. regular transit — a real difference
Cost of Living
Metro Vancouver consistently ranks among the most expensive cities in Canada. With housing, groceries, and daily expenses all rising, transit costs add up quickly. U-Pass BC directly reduces one of the most predictable monthly expenses students face.
Over a full academic year, a student commuting via 3-zone transit would pay approximately $2,540 in regular fares. With U-Pass BC at $47.85/month, the same student would pay around $578 - a saving of almost $2,000 per year.
Eligibility & Exemptions at JIBC
Who is Eligible?
Students are generally eligible for U-Pass BC if they meet the following conditions:Enrolled in a program or course for which a T2202 (Tuition and Enrolment Certificate) is issued, subject to a minimum of three creditsEnrolled in eligible General Studies programs, subject to a minimum of three credits, and one course must run five weeks or longer.Are a paying member of the Students’ Union and have paid applicable students’ union fees.Reside or attend classes in the Metro Vancouver region as defined below.
Important exception: Students who are enrolled exclusively at the JIBC Maple Ridge campus and do not attend any classes at the New Westminster campus during the same program duration are ineligible for the U-Pass BC program. This exemption is granted because the Maple Ridge campus is located in an area not adequately served by TransLink public transit.
Online-only students who are residing outside of Metro VancouverOutgoing foreign exchanges students
Who is Ineligible?
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Students who are currently enrolled at another post-secondary institution and are already paying for a U-Pass BC through that institution are not required to pay for a second U-Pass BC.
Supporting documentation required:
A photocopy of BOTH sides of your valid, non-transferable Compass Card linked to your other post-secondary institution.
A photocopy of your valid student ID card from your other post-secondary institution.
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Students who are unable to use the U-Pass BC due to a disability are exempt from the U-Pass BC fee. This includes students who hold a recognized disability-related transit pass (such as a CNIB card or other TransLink-recognized disability pass), as well as students with a documented physical or psychological condition that prevents them from using public transit who are registered with JIBC Disability Services.
Supporting documentation required:
For disability transit pass holders: A photocopy of both the front and back of your qualifying disability-related transit pass.
For medical/psychological conditions: A completed U-Pass BC Exemption Form signed by JIBC Disability Services, verifying your condition and recommending an exemption. The form must confirm that your condition prevents you from using public transit.
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Students hold another valid non-transferable transit pass which is valid for each month of the duration of the U-Pass BC Term (e.g. transit employee subsidiary pass). Please provide a photocopy of the front and back of the pass by the exemption deadline.
Note: A Monthly Fare Card (Stored Value) does not qualify as a TransLink Pass for exemption purposes.
Supporting documentation required: A copy of the front and back of your valid qualifying TransLink pass.
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Students who have withdrawn from all courses and have not yet loaded the U-Pass BC onto their Compass Card may be eligible for an exemption or fee reversal for the applicable month(s).
Note: The exemption or reversal applies only to months that have not yet started at the time of withdrawal and for which the U-Pass BC has not been loaded or activated on a Compass Card.
The refund amount will be for the current and future months U-Pass BC that have not been requested. If you have requested your U-Pass BC, there is no refund. There is also no refund for prior months U-Pass BC.
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Students who are enrolled exclusively in online courses and reside within the Metro Vancouver region are exempt from the U-Pass BC program.
Supporting documentation required: A valid government-issued photo ID (e.g., driver’s license, BCID, BC Services Card) or a recent utility bill or bank statement (dated within the last 30 days) showing your full legal name and a residential address within of the Metro Vancouver region.
While U-Pass BC is mandatory for eligible students, the following students may apply for an exemption with supporting documentation. Exemptions must be requested before the start of the applicable month and cannot be applied retroactively.Who can opt out?
Now it’s your turn to vote!
Whereas the U-Pass BC Program is a partnership between participating post-secondary institutions, student associations, TransLink, and the Province of British Columbia that provides eligible students with unlimited access to conventional transit services across Metro Vancouver and access to discounted West Coast Express fares; and Whereas participation in the U-Pass BC Program requires eligible students at participating institutions to pay a mandatory monthly fee that supports the significantly discounted cost of the transit pass compared to equivalent public transit fare products; and Whereas the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) is eligible to participate in the U-Pass BC Program, and participation would require agreements between JIBC, the JI Students’ Union (JISU), and TransLink; and Therefore, the referendum question is:
Do you agree to participate in the U-Pass BC program for all eligible JI Students’ Union members starting from January 2027, at the following monthly rate?
January 1, 2027 to August 31, 2027 - $47.85
September 1, 2027 to August 31, 2028 - $48.80
September 1, 2028 to August 31, 2029 - $49.80
September 1, 2029 to August 31, 2030 - $50.80
September 1, 2030 onwards: annual increases of up to 2% per year rounded to the nearest $0.05.