What is a Referenda?

The SFSS Referenda is an opportunity for students to vote on important issues and have a say in major decisions at the SFSS. Voting is happening soon and will be from February 14 to February 16, 2023.  Spring 2023 referenda will include 4 main items that will affect the following SFSS By-laws:

  • BY-LAW 2 – MEMBERSHIP
  • BY-LAW 4 – POWERS, DUTIES, AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS’ MEETINGS
  • BY-LAW 6 – POWERS, DUTIES, AND OBLIGATIONS OF COUNCIL
  • BY-LAW 7 – POWERS, DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
  • BY-LAW 8 – STUDENT UNIONS
  • BY-LAW 9 – STUDENT UNION LEVIES
  • BY-LAW 13 – ELECTIONS
  • BY-LAW 15 – RESIGNATION, IMPEACHMENT, OR ABANDONMENT

Make an informed decision by better understanding each referenda item you’ll be voting on. But first, let’s get you acquainted with these main referenda keywords:

  1. Amend: Changing or revising a statement in our By-laws.
  2. Associate Member – Students that are enrolled at another college or institution that are not undergraduates of SFU. They are recognized as a member by either a contract or agreement by the Society, and by a majority vote of approval from Council.
  3. By-law: A legal binding document that contains provisions respecting the internal affairs of the society (Simon Fraser Student Society) that must be approved or changed by membership.
  4. Council: Elected SFU Undergraduate students that manage the affairs of the society on behalf of the students (Members). They act as a Board of Directors for the SFSS.
  5. Executive Committee: A standing committee of the SFSS Council that has administrative and managing duties and works closely with the SFSS staff. The Executive Officers of SFSS are the following: President, Vice President University and Academic Affairs, Vice-President External and Community Affairs, Vice-President Equity and Sustainability, and Vice-President Events and Student Affairs.
  6. Majority Vote of Council – More than half of the votes.
  7. Membership: All registered undergraduate students at Simon Fraser University who have paid their student activity fee to the society.
  8. Member in Good Standing – A Registered member who has paid all fees, fines, and penalties levied as per the By-laws
  9. Proxy Vote – Vote casted on behalf of another person.
  10. Referendum: All-student votes on a particular issue. It is an opportunity to vote on important issues and have a say in major decisions at the SFSS.
  11. Registered Member – Registered Undergraduate SFU student that has paid SFSS fees.
  12. Slates – A group of 2 or more candidates running in an election under a similar platform for a mutual advantage with a goal of getting each other elected.

Spring 2023 Referenda Items/Questions | Get Informed Before Voting

As per By-law 16(3); referenda may be conducted during general or by-elections. By-law 16(4) outlines that Council by a simple majority vote may place items onto spring referenda. During 2-12-2023 Council Meeting Council approved the following resolutions outlined below for Spring 2023. There have been numerous changes to By-law passed at the October 26th, 2020 and October 27th, 2021 Annual General Meetings(AGM). Minor typographical errors, grammar errors, and errors in by-law referencing have been found after a thorough review of the By-laws.

Many of these changes have to do with correcting outdated names within the policy, to make sure that our By-laws reflect our current version of the Society. Other changes have to do with grammatical errors to make sure that the Policy makes sense to the reader.

Given the Background provided above, do you support amending the SFSS By-laws by: 1.1 Striking all occurrences of the phrase “the Council” and replacing them with “Council”- In the following sections

  • Amend By-law 6(11)(a) by replacing “the Council” with “Council”
  • Amend By-law 7(2) by replacing “the Council” with “Council”
  • Amend By-law 7(4) by replacing “the Council” with “Council”
  • Amend By-law 7(10)(h) and 7(10)(o) by striking all occurrences of the phrase “the Council” and replacing them with “Council”
  • Amend By-law 7(11)(f) by replacing “the Council” with “Council”
  • Amend By-law 7(14)(d), 7(14)(e), 7(14)(g), 7(14)(i), 7(14)(l), and 7(14)(r) by replacing all occurrences of the words “the Council” with “Council”
  • Amend By-law 7(13)(a) by replacing “the Council” with “Council”
  • Amend By-law 7(15)(i) by replacing “the Council” with “Council”
  • Amend By-law 8(3)(a)(ii) by replacing “the Council” with “Council”
  • Amend By-law 9(1) and 9(2) by replacing “the Council” with “Council”
  • Amend By-law 15(5)(a) by replacing “the Council” with “Council”
  • Amend By-law 18(1) by replacing “the Council” with “Council”

1.2 Striking all occurrences of the phrase “Executive Committee” with “the Executive Committee” In the following Section

  • Amend By-law 7(10)(o) by replacing “Executive Committee” with “the Executive Committee”
  • Amend By-law 7(14)(r) by replacing “Executive Committee” with “the Executive Committee”

1.3. Striking all occurrences of the phrase “the Council or Executive Committee.” with “Council or the Executive Committee.” In the following Section

  • Amend By-law 7(13)(k) by replacing “the Council or Executive Committee.” with “Council or the Executive Committee.”
  • Amend By-law 7(15)(m) by replacing “the Council or Executive Committee” with “Council or the Executive Committee”
  • Amend By-law 7(16)(g) by replacing “the Council or Executive Committee.” with “Council or the Executive Committee.”

1.4. Striking all occurrences of the phrase “General Meetings” with “Members’ Meetings.”In the following Section

  • Amend By-law 7(11)(d) by replacing “General Meetings” with “Members’ Meetings.”
  • Amend By-law 17(1)(d)(ii) by replacing all occurrences of “General Meeting” with “Members’
  • Meeting”

1.5. Various Individual Amendments

  • Amend By-law 4(3)(d) by replacing “Vice-President Finance’s” with “Vice-President Finance and Services’”
  • Amend By-law 4(4) by replacing “By-Law 4(1) [a]-[f]” with “By-Law 4(3) [a]-[f]”
  • Amend By-law 7(11)(g) by replacing “Constituency groups” with “Constituency Groups”
  • Amend By-law 7(13)(j) by replacing “Vice President Academic and University Affairs” with “Vice President University and Academic Affairs.”
  • Amend By-law 7(15)(e) by replacing “elected term” with “fiscal year.”
  • Amend By-law 13(8)(c) by replacing “elections” with “Executive Committee Elections”
  • Amend By-law 17(1)(d) by replacing “by-laws” with “By-Laws”
  • Capitalize the first letter of both By-law 7(10)(c) and 7(10)(d)

1.6. Amend to read

  • Amend By-law 2(8) to read “An Associate Member is in good standing if they have paid the Society fees and any Society fines and penalties.
  • Amend By-law 7(11)(l) to read as follows: “Perform any other duties as outlined in the By-laws, regulations, or as assigned by Council or the Executive Committee.”
  • Amend By-law 7(14)(i) to read as follows: “Perform any other duties as outlined in the By-laws, regulations or assigned by Council or the Executive Committee”
  • Amend By-law 15(4) to read “Notice of impeachment proceedings for an executive officer shall be the same as is required for a special resolution.”

After a thorough review of the By-laws have been several areas found in the By-laws where more clarity is required to ensure that SFSS By-laws are able to be clearly understood.

Given the Background provided above, do you support amending the SFSS By-laws 2,4, 6, and 13 by:

2.1 Amending to Read

  • Amend By-law 4(9) to read “Each Member in good standing of the Society shall be entitled to vote at the Members’ Meeting. In order to exercise their vote the Member shall be present at the meeting at the time the vote is put, and no votes by proxy shall be allowed.”
  • Amend By-law 13(3) to read “Members may not concurrently hold office as a voting member on the Executive Committee and as a member of a Student Union’s or Constituency Group’s Executive.”
  • Amend By-law 15(1) to read “If any member of Council or the Executive Committee ceases to be a Member in good standing of the Society, their resignation shall be deemed to have been delivered to and accepted by Council and Council shall declare the position vacant forthwith.”
  • Amend By-law 22(1) to read “In the event of a conflict between these By-laws and any Regulation, resolution of Council or the Executive Committee, or the provisions of any Student Union or Constituency Group Constitution or By-laws, the terms of these By-laws shall prevail.”

2.2 Replacing words to clarify council votes needed to recognize Associate Members of the society

  • Amend By-law 2(6) by replacing the words “majority vote of Council” with “four-fifth (4⁄5) majority vote of Council”

2.3 Adding a new Subsection on Alternates

  • Amend By-law 6(24) by adding in a new subsection 6(24)(h) that reads “Alternates must be members in good standing of the Society.”

2.4 Amending By-law 13 to allow for more than one Chief Commissioner, clarify the composition of the Independent Electoral Commission and to provide a clear timeline for the appointment of Electoral Commission

  • Amend By-law 13(7) to read “The Independent Electoral Commission shall consist of at least one Chief Commissioner, who shall act as Chair, and no less than four other Commissioners”
  • Amend By-law 13(7)(a) to read “No current member of, or candidate for, Council, a Student Union Executive, or a Constituency Group Executive may serve as a member of the independent electoral commission”
  • Amend By-law 13(7)(c) to read “All members of the Independent Electoral Commission shall be elected by two thirds (2/3) majority vote of Council by the end of the summer semester.”

2.5 Adding a new subsection that allow for flexibility and regulation of the composition of the IEC and that limits IEC from campaigning for candidates or Candidates’ slates

  • Amend By-law 13(7) by adding a new subsection 13(7)(e) that reads “The membership and composition of the IEC shall be subject to limitations via regulation.”
  • Amend By-law 13(7) by adding a new subsection 13(7)(f) that reads “No member of the IEC may campaign for or on the behalf of candidates or, if slates are permitted by regulation, slates.”

SFSS is looking for alternative methods of tracking and recording votes of Council and Committee members on motions. Additionally, it is imperative to find efficient and effective methods for processing roll calls, seeking unanimous consent, and other voting measures to ensure that these meetings are well-organised while providing accessible options for Council and Committee members. SFSS has continued to use Zoom as a method of delivery for online meetings and it would be reasonable to incorporate an electronic voting system that pairs well with virtual meetings.

Given the Background provided above, do you support amending the SFSS By-laws 6 by:

3.1 Adding new sections and subsections to By-law 6 that will allow e-voting in council meetings, as follows:

  • Amend By-law 6(23) by adding a new subsection 6(23)(a) that reads: “Notwithstanding, Council and its committees may select to use electronic voting means as long as:”
  • Amend By-law 6(23)(a) by adding a new sub-subsection 6(23)(a)(i) that reads “The platform used is approved by two-thirds (2⁄3) majority vote of Council”
  • Amend By-law 6(23)(a) by adding a new sub-subsection 6(23)(a)(ii) that reads “Council may revoke its approval of an electronic voting method by a two-thirds (2⁄3) majority vote of Council”
  • Amend By-law 6(23) by adding a new subsection 6(23)(b) that reads “In the event that a result of a vote taken by electronic means is inconclusive, the presiding Chair shall order a re-vote by either roll call vote, or unanimous consent.”

SFSS COUNCIL is proposing an amendment that will allow for an increase to the fee amount charged to SFSS members in their SFSS Health and Dental plan to happen without a referendum when necessary. SFSS Health and Dental Plan was launched in 2008 with no mechanism for Plan benefits to keep pace with the rising costs of health & dental services, except via referendum; SFSS Health and Dental Plan is one of the most utilized services by the SFSS membership, and has seen significant increases in claims year over year.

Students have expressed interest in additional mental health support and the proposed fee adjustment allows for the SFSS to expand mental health service offerings. Students will still retain the option to choose a lower level of coverage at a lower cost (Basic Plan), or opt out completely if they have equivalent alternative coverage; The SFSS has already exhausted other avenues to manage plan costs without cutting benefits:

QUESTION

Given the Background provided above and knowing that you can opt-out completely with alternative coverage or reduce your coverage for a lower cost, are you in favor to raise the SFSS Health & Dental Plan Fees by $31.92 for the policy year starting September 1, 2023 and authorize SFSS Council to adjust the Plan Fee by up to 5% annually (only when needed) starting September 2024, to account for inflationary impacts on Health & Dental services? Yes or No

A yes Vote

  1. Supports the new proposed plan for September 1st 2023 and has a potential to increase annually by up to 5%:
    – Enhanced Plan: From $267.08 to $299 per year.
    – Basic Plan: From $207.40 to $239.32 per year.
  2. SFSS would only initiate a fee increase if necessary to maintain coverage and continuation of the plan
  3. Fee increase would only be allowed up to 5% a year
  4. Students would be informed of changes to their Plans before payment deadline in case they wished to opt out from the Health and Dental Plans.

A No vote

  1. Supports the Current Plan and SFSS members will need to vote on all future increases to the Plan fees through a referendum question

Check out www.studentcare.ca/SFSS/fee/FAQ for more information.