CFS referendum results delayed
From the Referendum Oversight Committee's webpage:
UPDATE ON VOTE TABULATION
Dear Members,
The following is an update on the status of tabulating the votes cast in the referendum on continued membership in the Canadian Federation of Students. We are currently experiencing a delay related to the verification of enrolment status of some voters. The ballots in question have been enclosed in a double-envelope, to protect voter anonymity, while at the same time, allowing the eligibility of the voter to be determined.
The Referendum Oversight Committee will be confirming the eligibility of all of the individual voters in question and final, unofficial results will then be tabulated and released once that process has been completed.
We appreciate your patience regarding this matter. We are hopeful that results will be available shortly.
Sincerely,
The Referendum Oversight Committee
More on this as we get it, though it's almost certainly in reference to the status of FNUniv voters.
[…] Stay tuned. Results have been delayed because there’s a dispute over whether some votes are eligible. I’ve received one report that it’s FNUniv votes in question. Would this mean that one […]
[…] currently has to decide whether a group of contested votes will be counted. Read the release here. tags: News share comments […]
I just wanted to add that I'm currently interning as part of the Education program, and I was told that I might not be eligible to vote, so it's not necessarily FNUniv voters in question here. I was pretty ticked off about this, because interns still pay tuition and fees, so it's frustrating that we're not considered students at the U of R.
April, you're absolutely right, we learned a bit more today and it also applies to students like you who are out on practicums and internships. We're hoping this will be sorted out swiftly and that votes can be counted so everyone has their say!
Call me crazy but you would think (or hope) voter eligibility would have been decided BEFORE the vote took place.
The reason we did not know about the CFS is still to this day because of URSU and their inactive involvement. Just so students know your " WTF" do they do with it money….. you the students sent them to an AGM to discuss budgeting in Ottawa this weekend!!! Happening right now November 25th, 2010 and your URSU Exec representatives are missing the rally in Ottawa, shopping seems more important ?!! Great representation for the U of R guys!! Keep this in mind when you vote in the next URSU elections!
Hi Megan,
Good to hear from you, and thank you for your concerns.
First off, I would like to stress that the absence of the CFS on the University of Regina campus was not the fault of the current URSU Exec. URSU, most notably Kaytlyn Barber (VP External), has worked diligently over the past two years attempting to increase CFS visibility and accountability at the University of Regina. Unfortunately she was unable to achieve this, but to her defense there were several past URSU Exec members who were also unable to achieve this need.
Secondly, I completely understand your concern about URSU delegates missing a good natured CFS rally to "go shopping." Unfortunately your accusations could not be less accurate. Unfortunately Kaytlyn and I were absent from the rally at Parliament Hill, but we were not absent from Parliament Hill. At the same time as the CFS coordinated Education is a Right rally; Kaytlyn and I were meeting with the Deputy Leader of the Official Opposition Party for Canada – Ralph Goodale. We discussed issues of Post Secondary Education, social and economic issues in regards to the growing demographic shift in Canada, as well as touching on various other issues such as informing him of the Education is a Right rally that was currently taking place out front. It is also important to note that Mr. Goodale was the Minister of Finance for the last government. I say this to portray that he has a very strong and capable voice in the House of Commons, therefore expressing our concerns to him is beneficial.
I would also like to state that it is of my belief that if you are addressing concerns and lobbying from within the doors and walls of Parliament Hill, as opposed to yelling from the lawn out front, your concerns are far more likely to be heard and listened to. From that belief we decided to capitalize on the opportunity to meet with Mr. Goodale. Don't get me wrong, I do believe that political rallies have accomplished many great things. I just felt that having two people meet with an MP rather than attend a rally, could provide well balanced representation of the students of the University of Regina. I stand by this opinion.
At this time I would like to kindly invite you to know the facts for what they are, and avoid publically speculating infactual information.
I hope this cleared up any confusion and miscommunication.
Thanks.
Kyle Addison
So Kyle,
You oppose everything the CFS stands for (noting everything you've publicly said in the last year) yet you find it necessary to go to the AGM in Ottawa? Did you bring your yellow NO shirts?
And you're saying instead of using students' CFS $$$ to attend the meetings and events, you chose to go hang with Ralph Goodale in Ottawa?
In Ottawa?
Like his Regina office isn't suitable for you?
You openly tell students about how easy it is to get a meeting with him (because it is – Ralph will even come to the Uni to talk to students) yet you need to go see him in Ottawa?
And really, "as opposed to yelling from the lawn out front" did you happen to solve the multiple daunting issues of PSE in your meeting? I didn't see the press release.
You're all talk dude.
"Tick Tick Tick" thats the sound of your Presidency running out.
Thanks Kyle, once again, for putting your personal agenda (talking yourself up to politicians) instead of taking part of the student movement. I'm glad we can count on you. Who is running against you next year? Anyone? Sounds good to me.
Why go in the first place if you are using the money for a side agenda?! I agree Tick Tick Tick! I just laugh because this is a fact, you were asked to attend a meeting yesterday by two other Regina representatives and you still failed to go to a work shop, speaker what have you…. I believe you even missed a Sask speaker? Why go on our money if you are still innactive and not doing anything anyway!? Joke! Must be nice to have a free trip paid to Ottawa…
Cheers,
Megan 🙂
Kyle, did you make sure to outline to Mr. Goodale your explicit support of the Sask Party while you were busy not representing students? Can we hurry up and impeach this guy?
Well, I generally advocate for positive messaging and avoid negativity. I also don’t normally respond to threats. However, I will outline a few key issues here in respect to each individual’s comments.
Mark: As URSU President, I have no political tie-ins with any particular political party. As Kyle Addison, of course I have a political opinion. I am very much entitled to have that opinion. Ralph knows where I stand politically, you however, may not. Also, there is no substantial connection between the Liberal Party of Canada, and the Saskatchewan Liberals. They disconnected two years ago. Furthermore, the Saskatchewan Party is comprised of both Federal Conservatives, and Federal Liberals. When this particular party was created, it was a merge of members from both political preferences. For example, to my knowledge, government side MLA’s Rob Norris, June Draude, Ken Krawetz, Rod Gantefor, and Gord Wyant had Liberal backgrounds. So I don’t' really understand how that comment was relevant, or how it even leads to impeachment. But you are entitled to your opinion and I will respect that.
Joel: The comment of putting my personal agenda ahead of the student movement is complete speculation. That is infactual, and is nowhere near my intentions. What makes you so sure I'm running next year? But I'm not sure anyone will run against me next year, as I'm not running.
Megan: I'm glad to see you spoke with some colleagues here. But I wasn't asked to attend a meeting, I was asked to attend a guest speaker. They asked us to do so while Kaytlyn and I were eating supper. We got up to see if there were any spaces available for two people eating supper could sit, but we stood in the doorway observing that there were not.
I want to outline that I am here to represent the students of the University of Regina. As we are still members of the CFS, I am not out of line being here. Especially since it is unclear whether the majority of students want to continue or discontinue membership. Furthermore, I am here to represent URSU members in all decision making processes at this CFS AGM. These decision making processes involve meetings such as Opening and Closing Plenary, Sub Committee meetings, and Provincial Meetings. The primary reasons why organizations have AGM's are to democratically decide on decisions through carrying or defeating motions, and to provide the member base with information regarding the organization. It is not my intention to attend speakers who have extreme ideological messages, while representing students. In no way does that benefit students, and I will boldly stand by that.
Again, I have no side agenda. I promise you that. But I was the only person representing the Saskatchewan component at the OSD Committee tonight, and Kaytlyn was the only one representing the Saskatchewan component at the Budget Committee meeting. Due to the lack of people able to represent us, it's a very positive situation for us to be here. Oh, and a free trip paid to Ottawa would be nice, but I have dedicated my time to this AGM. Any break I have taken was to catch up on URSU work, and do homework. Therefore this is far from a luxurious free trip to Ottawa.
Terrain Temple: I haven't met you before. Nice to hear from you. My answers to most of your comments have been addressed in the above response to your colleagues. But no, I did not wear any of our yellow "NO" shirts here. I only have one left, and it is quite dirty as I had worn it for several days straight without washing it during the referendum. Pretty flattering huh?
Also, yes it is easy to access Mr. Goodale. He does a very good job of making himself available to members of the Regina community. The House of Commons is currently sitting which makes access to any MP more difficult. MP's fly to Ottawa Sunday night and fly home Friday evening. I do not expect any MP to meet with me over their hard earned weekend off, although I'm sure most of them are so dedicated to their constituents that they would.
I'm glad you have all taken the time to engage yourselves in University of Regina student issues. Apathy is increasingly haunting us. It's great to see that change, regardless of whether it’s in support of me or not. I can also see this forum active for quite some time. I apologize in advance if I am unable to provide quick responses as I am at an AGM, and have URSU and student business to accommodate as well.
Have a great weekend everyone! Go Riders!
Kyle Addison
[…] and expectations change with time. And neither is the URSU President apparently: Kyle Addison Posted November 26, 2010 at 10:55 […]
[…] and expectations change with time. And conjunction is a URSU President apparently: Kyle AddisonPosted November 26, 2010 during 10:55 […]