MSVU referendum on CFS 'null and void'

Student union president apologizes for how 'No' campaign was run

MSVU's student union is located in the Rosaria Centre. Photo: Michael Kimber

The president of the Mount Saint Vincent University Student Union has apologized for the way the student union's side of a referendum was run and admitted the vote was not a legitimate decision on breaking ties with a national student body.

President Jeremy Neilson posted an open letter to students around campus today concerning the referendum on membership in the Canadian Federation of Students that it held this fall.

MSVU's referendum took place on Sept. 24 and 25 last year.

Neilson writes that on Sept. 24, the CFS couriered MSVU a letter "stating that MSVU SU was in default of the current referendum due to a breach of CFS referendum bylaws. Therefore CFS has deemed the referendum which we just completed as null and void."

Neilson writes that the CFS did not respond to the student union's request for the federation to appoint two members of the Referendum Oversight Committee, as required by the federation's bylaws.

The referendum ballots are still being stored securely, but they have not been counted.

The student union campaigned for a "NO" vote. Neilson writes: "we take the stance that it is not our place to present the side of CFS ... I will, on the other hand, apologize for the way the campaign was run."

The MSVU remains a member of the CFS, and Neilson states the union will "try and make the most of our relationship with CFS. And we can only hope they will reciprocate these actions."

Neilson couldn't be reached for a comment by press time.

The MSVU referendum is only Canada's most recent controversial vote on CFS membership:

• Simon Fraser University's Student Society expects a court decision this month on its petition to recognize the results of its 2008 referendum to leave the CFS, despite the fact it did not fulfill all CFS regulations.
• Last March, the Cape Breton University Students' Union voted 92 per cent in favour of leaving the CFS, but the CFS does not recognize the referendum results because it says the federation was not notified six months in advance of the vote, as required by its bylaws.
• The Kwantlen Student Association's 2008 referendum went all the way to the Supreme Court. After months of legal wrangling and controversy, students voted 56 per cent in favour of remaining CFS members.

The University of Ottawa voted to join the CFS in November. The University of Calgary Graduate Students Association will vote on breaking its association with the CFS in April.

Student unions have criticized the CFS for financial irresponsibility and litigating against its members. In an interview with Memorial University student newspaper The Muse, 2007-2008 Cape Breton University Students' Union president Ian Lindsay said CFS had not adequately supported the union's efforts to advocate on behalf of students.

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