Selkirk College students are angry after being denied a vote to leave the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS). After months of wrangling to hold a referendum on exiting the group, the CFS sued the Selkirk College Students’ Union to stop the process from moving forward.
“Students are angry and disappointed with the Canadian Federation of Students,” said Santanna Hernandez, Director at-Large of the Selkirk College Students’ Union. “They feel they have been denied their right to vote by an organization that continually does not serve their needs.”
Selkirk College students have raised concerns with the Canadian Federation of Students for years. Concerns centre around the lack of a plan for the CFS to effectively lobby for better post-secondary education and the Ottawa-based group’s failing services. Despite numerous emails, meetings, and discussions at CFS meetings, Selkirk College students don’t feel that their concerns have ever been seriously addressed.
The bylaws of the CFS require students to petition to hold a vote to exit the group, and for the local students’ union to pay all outstanding membership dues prior to voting. A petition was filed by Selkirk College students in 2016, and all Selkirk College student CFS fees have been paid to the Ottawa-based group’s BC office.
“The leadership of the Selkirk College Students’ Union is committed to fighting for members’ right to vote,” said Hernandez. “Despite the CFS trying to stop democracy, we will not stop until members have had their voice heard.”
The Selkirk College Students’ Union represents over 2,000 students at Selkirk College.