CFS FAQs

What is the CFS?

CFS stands for the Canadian Federation of Students. It is a national student organization that lobbies the federal government about student issues, including educational funding.

Why did the GSA rejoin the CFS in the first place?

The GSA rejoined the CFS in 2001. There is nothing in the CFS documents the GSA has been able to obtain from that time period, nor is there anything in the remaining GSA documents that give an indication as to why the GSA approached the National Graduate Caucus (NGC) of the CFS in 1999. Most likely, the GSA wanted to have an effective, transparent and active lobby organization that would drive education to the forefront of the federal government’s agenda, and would deliver demonstrable and measurable results that directly impact student experience at the University of Calgary.

Why does the GSA wish to leave the CFS?

First and foremost, it must be stated that every grad student should vote according to their own conscience if and when the GSA secures a referendum about the CFS.

Secondly, students should be aware that CFS bylaws prohibit the GSA from engaging in any form of pre-campaigning. As such, the GSA is restricted in what kind of information it can supply to students, even when it comes to answering their basic questions.

To be clear, however, the impetus for pursuing defederation actually came from graduate students. Over a year ago, the student representatives from the Graduate Representative Council (GRC)—the GSA’s version of parliament—gave the GSA a mandate to pursue defederation.

Here is just some of the rationale behind pursuing defederation:

There is a lack of effective, consistent and prompt communication from the CFS to the GSA and grad students at the University of Calgary. This includes not receiving items such minutes from CFS meetings, documentation concerning membership and campaigns, and other information after repeated email requests.

The GSA has had great difficulty sending representatives to CFS meetings in the past. In one instance, the CFS pulled the travel funding to which the GSA is entitled, because the GSA representative had no choice but to arrive late on the first morning of the AGM. The GSA rep had to attend General Representative Council the evening before. As a result of the CFS pulling the travel funding, the representative did not attend the meeting. Yet in May 2009, the GSA became very confused and concerned when the CFS asked another GSA representative who was trying to attend the National Graduate Caucus AGM, to come late so that the CFS would save money on a cheaper flight.

The GSA has had difficulty in ascertaining what kinds of clear lobbying strategies the CFS and the National Graduate Council have deployed on behalf of grad students. It has been difficult to ascertain if and when they hold one-on-one meetings with Members of Parliament to lobby for education and graduate student funding. Information under “Campaigns and Lobbying” shows no current updates, or updates from years prior. Please, feel free to visit the CFS website in order to judge for yourself: www.cfs-fcee.ca/html/english/home/.

From how the CFS runs meetings to financial statements to communication with their member locals (member schools), the CFS has been identified by media in a number of scandals and the quality of their services have been called into question. For examples of these media stories, please see the digest.

Didn’t the GSA leave the CFS last year?

No. Last year the GSA passed around a similar petition and obtained over 800 signatures supporting a referendum. The GSA sent these by process server directly to the CFS offices in Ottawa and waited for a reply. In the CFS bylaws, there is a strict time line guiding the process of such a referendum, including a requirement that the CFS respond to any such petition within a 90 day period. After the 90 day deadline passed, the GSA finally received a response from the CFS, in which they alleged that the GSA owed them unpaid fees from previous years. When asked about what these fees were, and why there had been no prior notice, the GSA’s questions went unanswered.

Since last year's petition expired, the GSA had to begin the process again. This year, the GSA has obtained legal counsel in order to help expedite the CFS referendum bylaws and processes. Hopefully, this will ensure the process does not stall and allow such an expiration to occur again.

How much does the GSA pay the CFS each year?

The GSA’s last audited contribution to the CFS was $34,593.60. Of this total, $8,648.40 went to the National Graduate Caucus. Only one quarter of the GSA’s fees go to support the graduate student arm of the CFS, the National Graduate Caucus.

Will my fees go down if we leave?

Ultimately, graduate students will have to decide what to do with the $6.56 that each student pays for membership in the CFS each year.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of being with the CFS?

This question is difficult to answer because the GSA cannot pre-campaign in accordance with CFS bylaws. On top of that, the GSA does not have easy access to CFS documentation such as minutes, etc.

Are there any benefits to the membership?

Again, this is difficult to answer because CFS bylaws prohibit the GSA from pre-campaigning. The GSA can share the following facts:

CFS-Services
The CFS offers other services, by the CFS-Services component to its members. However, most of these services do not benefit U of C grad students directly, or can be obtained through other channels. Here are some examples:

• Tax Returns: The CFS has a link to Ufile.ca on their website so students can process their taxes online. And Ufile.ca will let anyone who has attended a post-secondary in the last year to file for free, regardless of their membership in the CFS. In fact, anyone making under $20,000 can process their taxes on Ufile.ca for free. Lastly, the U of C Students’ Union runs a free, tax program every spring to which grad students have access.
• Travel Cuts: This is a business owned by the CFS which, according to 2007 CFS financial statements, lost over $1 million that year alone. If the GSA defederates, grad students can still use Travel Cuts as can any member of the public. However, it should be pointed out that one can find comparable travel deals by searching online or going to other travel companies.
• U of C Graduate Student Day Planners: In the past, the GSA day planners were purchased through CFS-Services. However, this year the day planner was produced by the GSA and, as was reported at the August 31, 2009 GRC meeting, the GSA saved money by producing them in house.
• Health and Dental: The GSA does not belong to the CFS’ Student Health Network. GSA Health and Dental coverage will not be affected in any way.

What is your plan for advocacy if the students vote to leave the CFS?

On the federal level, there is another viable student lobby alternative called the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA). There is also an organization called Canadian Association for Graduate Studies (CAGS). Neither of these organizations charge students fees as high as the CFS, and neither requires the very detailed and time-consuming referendum process the CFS employs in order to terminate its membership. It has also been suggested that the GSA can choose to collect the current CFS fee and use it to lobby on its own behalf.

Provincially, there is the Alberta Graduate Council (AGC). It should be noted that most educational funding for U of C graduate students comes from the province of Alberta. As well, it’s important to note that the AGC fees total $2.00 per student, per year.

How I can become more aware of the CFS' activities at U of C?

Since the CFS has limited their communication with the GSA in the past, the GSA is not aware of any current campaigns. In the last three years, the CFS has never formally contacted the GSA Executive to come and speak to U of C grad students. As far as the GSA is aware, there are currently no CFS activities taking place at the U of C. If students are interested in finding out more, the GSA encourages them to go to the CFS website: www.cfs-fcee.ca/html/english/home/

Why do I have to physically sign a petition?

Although there are no restrictions in place about what type of signatures are collected, either electronic or physical, it is likely that a physical signature will expedite the referendum process. All students who are off campus and cannot be here to sign the petition should ask for one to be emailed to them, sign it, and both fax and mail it to the GSA office by 4:30 pm on Wed., Oct. 7, 2009. To obtain a copy of the petition, please email the GSA Executive Assistant at ea@gsa.ucalgary.ca.

Visit www.gsa.ucalgary.ca/contact.html for office hours and information.

How will voting work during the referendum?

When it comes to voting during the referendum, the Referendum Oversight Committee (which will be comprised of two members from CFS and two members from the GSA in accordance with CFS bylaws) will make the decision as to how voting will take place.

The GSA will strongly advocate for an electronic vote as it feels this is the most fair, convenient and accurate method of voting available to all student members.

If you have any further questions that were not answered here, please feel free to email the GSA Director of Campaigns Matt Musson at .