Report and Recommendations from the GSS Committee on Review of the CFS Membership

March 27, 2007

Committee Members:
Amanda Finn (GSS Chair and Executive Representative to CFS) Lee Blanding (History) Mary Butterfield (Philosophy) Patrick Reed (Philosophy) Susan Wilson (English) Tayfun Ince (Physics and Astronomy)

Report and Recommendations From the Graduate Committee to Review CFS Membership Committee Members: Amanda Finn (GSS), Tayfun Ince (Physics and Astronomy), Lee Blanding (History), Mary Butterfield (Philosophy), Patrick Reed (Philosophy), Susan Wilson (English). Motion for the Graduate Representative Council to form the committee (February 27, 2007): Be it resolved that the Graduate Representative Council (GRC) form a committee to re-evaluate the Societys membership to the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS). Be it further resolved that the Society representative to the CFS-BC executive be a member of this committee as an ex-officio and chair the committee meetings. Be it further resolved the committee shall provide a report of its findings including a recommendation for the consideration of the membership at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) next month. Be it further resolved the GRC shall work to ensure inclusive participation of the membership to the AGM for the discussion of the committees recommendation as well as the usual business of the Society.

Since the UVic GSS meeting of 27 February 2007, the Committee to Review CFS Membership (MRC) has met six times. During the first meeting, the committee established that its mandate was to investigate the following two scenarios and their related questions: a. If the UVic GSS chooses to continue as a member of the CFS, what changes must occur, and how can we ensure that such changes are implemented? If the UVic GSS decides to leave the CFS, whose constitutional guidelines should we follow for that process those of the CFS, or those of our own GSS which differ? What would this course of action involve? What would we do with the money accrued from GSS membership dues? What would be the impact on GSS members in terms of services provided, and how might the GSS independently provide similar services?

b.

2 In the interests of addressing these issues fairly, we clarified current concerns regarding the actions of the CFS-BC particularly in regard to their lack of fiscal accountability regarding the provision of up-to-date audits and financial reports, and their approval of an unsecured loan to the Douglas Students Union (DSU). Additional questions arose about transparency regarding political lobbying by the CFS-BC in member institutions who questioned CFS practices, the focus given to graduate student issues in general, and the current use of faction fighting within the CFS to stonewall any focus or action on graduate student concerns raised within CFS-BC plenary committee meetings. Our deliberations over these issues were based on extensive background reading, including some 100 pages of articles and correspondence related to other BC educational institutions historical involvement and concerns with the CFS-BC, the minutes of the CFS-BC executive meetings of July, October, and December 2006, and the CFS-BC document entitled History of the Student Movement (2004). (See materials listed under Appendix A and Appendix B attached to this report.) Committee members also had the opportunity to meet with Scott Payne, current Chair of the CFS-BC, and Shamus Reid, currently the CFS National Executive Representative in BC and incumbent for the CFS-BC Chair position, who traveled to Victoria to attend a 3-hour MRC meeting. During their presentation, they reviewed the history of the student movement in Canada and spoke to the concerns raised by members of the MRC. The result of our MRC meetings is that two positions have emerged. The first is a moderate stance advocating continued membership with the CFS-BC under specific provisions and subject to supervision by a UVic GSS appointed watch dog. The second position involves defederation; however, the process for this would have to be determined through a UVic GSS referendum. Obviously, either course of action would require majority endorsement by the UVic GSS membership. The table on the following page illustrates the advantages and disadvantages we have identified with each position.

Advantages to Continued BC CFS Membership: Representation on the National Graduate Caucus (NGC); Political strength in numbers; Membership in an organization with established political relationships at both the federal and provincial levels;

Ability to help them with undergraduate issues from the benefit of our position as graduate students; Student Work Abroad Program (SWAP) found to be a valuable service; No legal costs/wrangling over UVic GSS attempt to defederate.

Disadvantages to Continued BC CFS Membership: Lack of fiscal accountability and responsibility; Lack of transparency in terms of political practices; Hegemony of non-student members of BC CFS executive, particularly in the ability of 1 person to grant money without consulting the executive, AND through the practice of stonewalling graduate issues presented to plenary committees, thereby negatively influencing the culture of debate; Lack of focus on graduate student issues in an organization with a predominantly undergraduate membership; Negative impact of internal faction fighting within BC CFS; History of adverse and abusive relationships with member student bodies who question BC CFS policy and practice; With the exception of the Student Work Abroad Program (SWAP), the MRC found that the current services provided by membership in the CFS are essentially of no demonstrable benefit and could otherwise be replaced by more effective measures through other means by the UVic GSS. (You do not need to be a CFS member to access these services.)

It is important to note that the questions we are posing to the UVic GSS membership for referendum may cause conflict between the CFS constitution and bylaws and those of the UVic GSS, especially with regards to the specific timeline for notice of referendum. That said, it is our position that we should

4 honour the constitution and bylaws of the UVic GSS which are in accordance with the BC Societies Act. Given the MRCs findings, we wish to propose the following motions to the UVic GSS: Be it resolved that the following questions be put to referendum to be held as soon as possible according to the GSS constitution and by-laws: 1. Do you agree that the University of Victoria Graduate Students Society (GSS) shall take the following actions: cease full membership in the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), and cease collection of $7.50 per semester mandatory CFS membership fees?

2. If the GSS ends the CFS membership: Do you agree to increase the GSS membership fee by $6.00 per semester to be distributed into the following GSS funds: $4.00 the Operating Fund and $2.00 to the Capital Fund?

3. If the GSS maintains the CFS membership: Do you agree that the GSS membership in the CFS shall be revisited at a referendum in every 3 years? Do you agree that if the CFS does not provide audited financial statements to their membership at their first Annual General Meeting (AGM) immediately after the fiscal year end, the GSS shall withhold the CFS fees in trust until the audit is provided to the members at an AGM?

In conclusion, in the event that the UVic GSS decides to maintain its relationship with the CFS, the UVic GSS executive and the society in general shall work to address the concerns identified in this report over a three year period, at which time our CFS membership will be reassessed to ascertain what effective changes have been made.