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Regulation 320.06: Plebiscite and Referenda Procedure

01. Initiation

  1. Where a Member wishes to initiate a plebiscite or referendum via petition, that Member shall submit to the C.R.O.:

    1. the intent of the question;

    2. whether the question is a plebiscite or a referendum;

    3. the name, faculty, and student identification of that Member;

    4. a twenty-five dollar ($25.00) deposit in the form of cash or a certified cheque or money order payable to the Students’ Union.

  2. Upon receipt of a submission meeting the requirements in Section 01(1), the C.R.O. shall immediately forward the intent of the question to the Bylaw Committee.

  3. The Bylaw Committee shall approve within fourteen (14) days from receiving the intent of the question from the C.R.O., a petition question which:

    1. fully reflects the intent submitted by the Member;

    2. if carried and acted upon, would not violate any Students’ Union bylaws or any federal or provincial law;

  4. Students’ Council shall, at the meeting following the drafting of the petition question by the Bylaw Committee, approve a question which meets the criteria set out in Section 01(3) unless the question would cause Students’ Council to breach its fiduciary responsibility to the Students’ Union.

  5. Sections 01(3) and 01(4) notwithstanding, where it is not possible for the Bylaw Committee or Students’ Council to approve a petition question which meets the criteria set out in Section 01(3), neither the Bylaw Committee nor Students’ Council shall approve such a question.

  6. Prior to being approved by Students' Council, all plebiscite and referendum questions must be drafted by the Bylaw Committee.

02. Side Selection

  1. At least twenty-eight (28) days in advance of the plebiscite or referendum, the C.R.O. shall schedule and announce a meeting for the registration of sides, such meeting to take place not more than twenty-one (21) and not fewer than fourteen (14) days in advance of the plebiscite or referendum in conjunction with the Candidates meeting;

  2. For each plebiscite or referendum, there shall be

    1. a “yes” side;

    2. a “no” side.

  3. Members wishing to register themselves as part of a side shall attend the meeting for registering sides.

  4. A Member’s registration for a side shall be accepted when the Member

    1. attends the meeting for registering sides;

    2. announces their intention to register for a side;

    3. provides the C.R.O. with their name, student identification number, and contact information; and

    4. the C.R.O. is satisfied that that Member does not aim to falsely represent that side by registering for it.

  5. Section 02(4) notwithstanding, no Member shall register for more than one (1) side for any plebiscite or referendum.

  6. Each side shall select, from among the Members registered to it, one (1) side manager.

  7. Any Member of the Students’ Union Executive Committee is eligible to serve as a side manager of a referenda/plebiscite without taking a leave of absence from their position as an executive.

  8. No individual can concurrently be a Candidate for a position and a side manager for a plebiscite/referendum.

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