Student leaders at CBU deliberating over exit from Canadian Federation of Students

The Cape Breton University Students' Union is cautiously working to mend its relationship with the Canadian Federation of Students.

"I would say we're making an effort," said union president Roy Karam. "It's on the rebuild. Thin ice, but on the rebuild."

A vote by CBU students in 2008 to leave the CFS resulted in a lengthy legal battle.

The federation sued, arguing the CBU referendum hadn't followed its bylaws.

In 2015, an Ontario court agreed, and awarded the CFS almost $300,000 in back dues.

The union appealed, but before the appeal was heard the two parties reached a settlement.

That agreement, reached this past April, mandates that the CBU students' union remain a member of the CFS until 2019, at which point it will be entitled to seek another referendum.

"My direction that I have taken is we should be members in good standing," Karam said. "Our students are paying for it. Let's be active with them, and let's also do our best to influence change to make it truly democratic and truly student-driven."

To that end, the union was a signatory with nine other member schools in an open letter to the CFS that cites concerns about how the organization is run.

'Lack of space for dissent'

A news release issued by the union said chief among the concerns are that, "the Federation does not take proper meeting minutes nor post them online, staff voices are dominant over those of students, there is a lack of space for dissent and for constructive criticism, there is extreme difficulty with accessing information such as bylaws, policies and financial information," and that there is "an overly burdensome process through which locals are able to leave the CFS."

Said Karam: "I think it's important that our name had to be on that letter, given our circumstance of not being able to leave the federation."

The most recent attempt to leave was launched last year by then fourth-year student Brandon MacDonald.

He circulated a petition requesting a new referendum.

Not hopeless

He mailed it to the CFS office in Ottawa, but was frustrated to have it returned due to an incorrect address — an address he had found on the CFS website.

MacDonald, now a student union executive vice-president, said he feels "a little cautious" about the union's attempt to mend fences with the federation.

"But overall I think there's opportunity to be had here. If the organization can be improved and we can fix some of the faults, then I think that's something that's worth looking into."

MacDonald and Karam say what happens over the next three years will help determine whether CBU students make yet another attempt to successfully break ties with the CFS in 2019.