Day 5: D-Day

The budget committee report was the first to be presented. Three motion were contained in this report. The first was to reappoint their current auditor. I spoke against the motion by proposing an amendment. The amendment read, “BIFRT the Canadian Federation of Students open the audit postion to the public through competitive process for the 2010-2011 National General Meeting.” I felt this amendment was completely reasonable as the board stated that they usually change auditors every 4-5 years, as common practice, I stated that as well as opening the process wiuld allow the federation to seach for a more qualified auditor, and even cheaper for the position, as well as with the new accounting standands coming into place, a new auditor may be more efficient. The amendment failed, thanks to the confusion brought on by UBC-Okanagan staff. The motion passed without the amendment.

The other two motion passed to adopt the budget, and the financial statements.

The Electoral report was passed omnibus to appoint the entire elected representative to their respective positions which passed omnimus.

The Campaigns reports was issued and all the motions were adopted whether it be through omnibus or through debate. This is the point of the conference when I realized why students believe in the CFS. The federation proposes several campaigns that spark emotions within the organization and its members. The motion that ignited the room was one that proposed to the federation to aid the First Nations University of Canada to stop the government from closing its doors. The speaker received a standing ovation and the motion was passed unanimously. It was also at this point in the day were I was disappointed in our own council. The federation will provide a single local with its support to help a school keep its doors open, but we won’t take the initiative to show up for its council meetings, some of the campus events, or even join a team to help raise money for cancer. Even if the motives of the are a bit extreme and sometimes flawed the initiative to do something for its students is there. Whether it be to support the use of 100% sweat-free t-shirts or to draft a policy on sexual assault the motives are there. And I believe this is the main thing missing from the KSA Council.

So when it comes to the OSD motions unless mentioned the motions were passed via omnibus, or do not really affect the KSA or its students. The numbers of the motions may be mistaken but the motions descriptions are correct.

Motion 89 – recommended for defeat in entirety
This motion was to place all minutes of the meetings online for the public. This motion was defeated as the Canadian federation of student stated that the motion would allow potential enemies to gain insight into their campaigns and pose a potential threat. Motion Failed

Motion 07 – recommended to adopt
This motion failed as the CFS does not want to have any election online presently or in the future. The arguments were placed that the system is full of holes, and easily hacked while bring up the UBC election. Two individuals spoke for and the question was called. I was in line to speak against the motion to ban online voting, before the question was called, and called point of information requesting to know if an individual can call the question before someone has spoken on each side of the argument. The judge ruled in my favour and gave me the chance to speak. I passed the opportunity to Kelsey the UVSS rep who had a more reasonable argument then I had. He spoke against and the vote was called. The motion passed and the CFS will not perform any online voting

Motion 13 – Motion to adopt with amendment.
The amendment and the motion passed on the motion. The amendment stated that the only thing being changed was the federate to certify, and defederate to decertify. This motion passed but it is a motion brought up in another from the November AGM. This motion was previously motion 6 which was illegally passed to increase the quorum to decertify from the federation.

Motion 28 – Motion to adopt
Motion to increase quorum for election from 5% to 10% of student population. Carried

Motion 30 – motion to adopt
Motion to have the ability to remove names from a petition if requested by the student. Motion passed. People explained that students shouldn’t sign a petition when drunk and

Motion 70 had to do with the student association collecting a list of the student list from school whenever a referendum takes place. I spoke out against this motion at the stand. I can’t believe how nervous one can be speaking out to openly express their opinion on a topic. After a weekend of the CFS, it seemed to feel like every eye is on you hoping that you drop on the spot or embarrass yourself at the stand in front of around 500 – 600 students . As I felt very passionate against this motion I feel I spoke confidently. I spoke out expressing my concern for the privacy of students in that many universities refuse to give their student unions the information regarding the students registers, and to punish a student with the double ballot voting system as the faculty refuse to provide the list is unfair, and can even detract from many universities hitting the quorum of 10% of the student population that was just passed. I also mentioned that I believe passing the motion and fighting the universities to obtain the list may be an issue of the privacy act. Students do not consent to their personal information even student number to be given to an outside body and doing such could end in a lawsuit if the student were to conplain as there was now consent given by each respective student. After speaking against this point an individual called the question. Not allowing another individual to talk after I had finished as one person had spoken for and one against. I believe that this motion was meant to pass after the discussions at all caucuses, constituencies, BC delegation, and even the OSD discussion that I attended without speaking rights. After speaking the vote occurred and the motion was defeated. Schools no longer have to provide student information to the CFS for voting purposes.

Motion 76 was the motion to have the ability to request member ship dues from the federation within 30 days of request along with the financial position of the organization. This motion passed with an amendment to send an annual letter to each local showing their financial position and delegate fees. This will allow all school to understand exactly how much is outstanding if the local is trying to decertify.

Motion 78 was a motion put in place to have each member local has access to a vote regardless of their financial position and membership dues. This motion was defeat, as foreseen with some common logic to back it up. By allowing a member to vote without paying delegate fees seems to pass a punishment and not allow a solid plan for the federation to collect its fees.

Motion 80 was to move a disabilities representative placed on the national executive. The federation requested more thought be placed on this motion and passed it be recommended to the national executive.

Motion 94 was placed by the KSA in order to allow additional media entrances into opening and closing plenary. The members discussed that they already allow a single reporter , pro-CFS reporter, into the meeting to document the proceedings. It was also mentioned that other media was brought to the CFS National Meetings before and many issues had arisen. The motion was defeated.

Motion 96 was to have the federation put their financial statements and budget online. There was an amendment to remove budget. The motion as voted on before I anyone could talk about this motion, as the question was called. After the voted I realized I should have called point of order as we had put the motion forward and had the right to motivate. I didn’t the vote occurred and the motion carried. The federation will not be putting their statements online and they will only be available at the KSA office.

Any motion that wasn’t discussed was passed by omnibus, unless I forgot one.

Finally the policy report came, and the motions were proposed for omnibus. Some were pulled and will be discussed at the November AGM.