CSA reopens voting following failed 2016 referendum
On March 28, 2016, the CSA board met for an emergency meeting to publicly discuss the 2016 CSA referendum. The meeting was chaired by former human resources and operations commissioner (HRO) Joshua Ofori-Darko, and was attended by all remaining members of the 2015/2016 CSA executive committee. Current HRO Matthew Campbell was once again absent.
Several members of the student body were present, anticipating any kind of resolution to the on-going tension regarding the failed bus pass referendum question.
The meeting began with academic and university affairs commissioner Peter Miller attempting to amend the agenda in order to bring the bus pass referendum question to the top of the meeting. However, College of Physical and Engineering Sciences Student Council president Ellen Song spoke against this amendment.
Director Song argued that the bus pass referendum motion is directly affected by the first issue on the agenda, an action item that attempted to introduce new bylaw policy to deal with referendum moratoriums.
“It’s imperative that we discuss [the first item on the agenda] before we do the referendum,” said director Song.
Although communications and corporate affairs commissioner Sonia Chwalek sided with her fellow commissioner, the board rejected the amendment, and began discussing the agenda in its original order.
Following a quick notice, director Song motivated the referendum moratorium bylaw action item.
“I think it’s really important today to realize that, when a question fails due to a no vote, that implies something very different than when a question fails due to a failed quorum,” said director Song.
Director Song explained that the proposed bylaw amendment would speak to failed referendum questions, and provide a means by which these referendum questions can be given a second chance.
Discussion continued, with commissioners Miller and Chwalek proposing that the board table the vote on the new policy until the next scheduled board meeting. Directors fought back, arguing that the bus pass issue is directly affected by the new policy.
The board eventually voted to adopt the new policy.
As per the new policy, referendum items that fail to meet quorum can be reintroduced to the student body at the next official election period. Referendum questions that contain contractual elements can be reintroduced according to a vote by the board of directors.
“This is something that is relevant to how the CSA conducts business, and how questions are put forward to the student body,” said director Song.
Following the adoption of the new policy, the CSA began discussion on the issue of the failed bus pass referendum question.
“I think it’s fairly obvious where this motion is coming from,” began director Song, in regards to the bus pass referendum action item. “It’s reactionary. Based on the feedback that the student body has given us, based on the time that we’ve been given by Guelph Transit, I think it’s in the best interest of the board to reopen this issue.”
Discussion continued regarding the method by which the referendum question would be distributed. During discussion, there was clear agreement on the bus pass referendum issue.
Apart from academic affairs commissioner Peter Miller and communications and corporate affairs commissioner Sonia Chwalek, who both abstained from the vote, the board unanimously voted in favour of reopening the bus pass referendum question.
Voting began on March 30, 2016, and will conclude on April 1, 2016.
Students who have already voted will be unable to cast a new ballot. Students who have yet to vote will be sent an email with a ballot.