Nicholas Bergamini
The Chief Electoral Officer has been alerted to the domain name “Cusaonline.ca” which
links to a CBC Article dated November 25, 2009 entitled “Students drop Shinerama
fundraiser for illness targeting Caucasians” in which you are named and quoted.
This article has obviously been posted in an effort to reach students that mistakenly type
in cusaonline.ca instead of going to the cusaonline.com website. The article is supportive
of your campaign and as such the Chief Electoral Officer deems it as a form of
campaigning.
Even if you did not personally post the article or purchase the domain name, you are
responsible for ensuring your election campaign is done in a fair and respectful manner.
Under the CUSA Electoral Code, as a candidate, you are responsible for your workers’
actions concerning your campaign.
Therefore the Chief Electoral Officer has found you to be in violation of the following
sections, 12.1, 12.2, and 12.7:
12.1 campaigning shall be defined as the process of distributing, advertising, exhibiting,
presenting, broadcasting, soliciting, or making any sign or gesture so as to exhort or
convince any member of the Association to support by ballot or any other means, any
candidate in an election, by-election, recall, or referendum. Advertising is interpreted to
include any type of publicity that directly promotes or opposes the election of a
candidate.
12.2 There shall be a period of five (5) business days in the campaign period before the
polls open.
12.7 All campaign material shall be submitted first for approval of the CEO. Approval of
the CEO shall be denoted by a stamp of the Office of the CEO, which shall appear on all
material. The CEO shall refuse any item if, in the opinion of the CEO, the material
contravenes the CUSA Constitution, is libelous, or if the material does not clearly
identify its originator(s).
As such, you are being served with an electoral offence.
Should you wish to appeal this ruling, please submit to the Elections Office your appeal
in writing.
February 2, 2010