Motions to allow member unions more oversight in referendums to join or leave the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) were defeated at the sixty-third semi-annual national general CFS meeting, held May 30–June 3 in Ottawa.
Among the issues discussed was Bylaw No. 1, which focuses on whether there should be a clear, democratic process for student associations to join and leave the CFS.
Most representatives at the meeting were in favour of a clearer and more democratic process for student associations to join and leave the CFS, but motions to amend the bylaw that deals with membership referendums were defeated, according to CFS national chairperson Jessica McCormick.
“For those student unions that believe in a unified student movement, divisions within the movement are always a concern,” McCormick said.
One of the motions would have given local member unions a say in appointing the chief returning officer (CRO), who oversees the referendum process. The CFS is in charge of this without needing to consult the member union.
Appointment of a CRO is required to be ratified by a vote during the national general meeting by the general assembly.
Brandon Clim, a blogger at studentunion.ca, said he has concerns about the CFS’ level of transparency. A political science student at the University of Ottawa, Clim was not present at the meeting, but said he has listened to audio recordings of the discussions.
“I was very disappointed but not at all surprised to learn that many practical motions, which sought to make the [CFS] more open and accessible to its own members, were voted down by the general assembly during closing plenary,” Clim said.
In February 2013, former Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) vice-president (finance) Michael De Luca said CUSA was preparing to circulate a petition asking if students are interested in defederating from the CFS. CUSA president Alexander Golovko said this remains an option.
“CUSA is here to work on behalf of Carleton University students, for Carleton University students, and if it is the wish of our students to leave the CFS, this will be done,” he said.
But Golovko said he could not comment more specifically on agenda points because the CFS barred CUSA from attending four of the five days of the meeting.
“As a paying member of the CFS, CUSA has attempted to attend the recently held bi-annual meeting, however we were barred from doing so on the basis of some outstanding fees not being paid in due time prior to registration,” Golovko said. “These fees were only brought to our attention at the bi-annual [meeting].”
The CFS allowed CUSA to be present on the last day of the conference following a commitment from CUSA to look into the outstanding fees, according to Golovko.
“It is not until the last day of the conference and following an avid exchange of frustration, right prior the closing plenary, that the CFS executive has allowed CUSA to be present,” Golovko said.
Other motions discussed at the meeting concerned issues such as fighting unpaid internships, protecting women on campus from sexual assault and violence, and discontinuing the CFS’ national lobby week to make post-secondary education more affordable, a motion that was defeated by a strong majority, according to McCormick.
