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Regulation 150.02: Deviation from Political Policy

01. Process for Deviation

  1. Deviation from political policy for a Student Representative Association (SRA) shall include the following stepwise process:

  1. An approved motion by the SRAs highest governing body initiating the formal process;

  2. A formal meeting with a delegate of the Students' Union Executive Committee, and other relevant executives, to discuss the specific political policy in question; and

  3. A presentation to Students’ Council outlining, at a minimum:

    1. Evidence of a successful motion in 1.a;

    2. An outline of the perceived need to deviate from political policy;

    3. An outline of the resolutions the SRA shall be advocating for in contradiction to the political policy; and

    4. A proposal for a plebiscite of the SRA members.

  4. Students’ Council shall consider the presentation and proposal outlined in 1.c, at the meeting it is presented, and either:

    1. Approve the proposed plebiscite process;

    2. Request subsequent information and presentation; or

    3. Reject the proposal.

  5. Should the proposal be approved by Students’ Council, the draft plebiscite question shall be sent to Bylaw Committee to have the finalized wording approved within 30 days.

  6. The plebiscite shall be put to the SRA membership, at timing preferred by the SRA, during one of the three Students’ Union election periods.

    1. Should the SRA deem the plebiscite urgent, special exception to (f) shall be permitted and the Chief Returning Officer and SRA shall decide on an appropriate timeline.

    2. The cost of such an additional plebiscite shall be shared equally by the Students’ Union and Faculty Association.

  7. The plebiscite shall be run by the Students’ Union Elections Office and shall adhere to the rules for plebiscites as outlined in Bylaw 320, as applicable. The framework for plebiscites as laid out in Bylaw 320 shall also be applied to the fall by-election or Students’ Council election, for this purpose only.

  8. The plebiscite shall only be declared valid and successful where the following conditions are met:

    1. All base members of the association are eligible to vote; and

    2. A minimum 15% voter turnout is achieved; and

    3. A majority of the votes are cast in favour of the deviation from political policy.

  9. Following a valid and successful plebiscite, the SRA shall provide Students’ Council with a presentation of these results.

  10. Students’ Council shall consider the presentation, including the plebiscite results, and:

    1. Approve the deviation from political policy; or

    2. Reject the deviation from political policy.

  11. Should the deviation from political policy be approved by Students’ Council, the Student Representative Association shall be able to advocate on issues in contradiction to the political policy in question based on the resolutions in Section 1.c.iii.

  12. The approved motion shall be in effect for one (1) calendar year and Students’ Council shall be allowed to extend the approval for up to one (1) additional calendar year without repeating the process outlined in Section 6.

  13. Following approval of the deviation, the SRA representatives shall meet with a Staff Delegate of the Students' Union and relevant Students’ Union Executives to discuss messaging.

  14. With respect to this process, the SRA shall not be punished or otherwise reprimanded by the Students’ Union, so long as this process and its results are adhered to.


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