[umga] Canadian Federation of Students referendum
- From: UMGA Executive <umga@xxxxxxx>
- To: undisclosed-recipients: ;
- Date: Tue, 08 Nov 2005 14:08:09 -0600
Hey guys, I'm just passing along a message from UMSU to the U of M students
here about the Canadian Federation of Students referendum. Voting is taking
place on today, tomorrow and Thursday this week, so be sure to get out there
and vote.
Drew Northcott
UMGA President
(visit the UMGA website at www.umga.net)
(To unsubscribe from our mailing list, please reply and ask nicely)
*forwarded message*
As you may know, University of Manitoba students will be voting on joining the
Canadian Federation of Students on November 8-10. Each student (including both
grad and undergrad) at the University of Manitoba has the right to vote in the
referendum. *The University of Manitoba Students' Union and and many other
students' associations have endorsed membership in the Canadian Federation of
Students, and are encouraging people to vote "YES"* in the referendum to unite
with students across the province and country. Other endorsements can be
found at www.yescfs.ca.
U of M students have been trial members of the Federation for a year, with UMSU
representatives serving as full voting members. The upcoming referendum vote is
to formally join the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) as full members, and
formalize a working relationship with other
students across the country.
The Canadian Federation of Students was formed in 1981 to provide students with
an effective and united voice, nationally and provincially. Today, the
Federation is an alliance of more than 80
university and college students’ unions with a combined membership of more
than 500,000 students! In Manitoba, this includes students from the University
of Winnipeg, St. Boniface College, Brandon University, and Graduate Students at
the U of M, who are already members of CFS.
The Federation advocates on behalf of students, with the primary goal of making
post-secondary education universally accessible and of high quality. Under the
umbrella of the Federation, member students’ unions work to reduce tuition
fees, reduce student debt, restore government funding, and to stop the
de-regulation of tuition fees, among other issues. The Federation also provides
its members with money-saving programs and services.
Membership in the organization costs $5.66 per semester (total $11.32 per
year), and this past year as trial members, UMSU and U of M students have
already seen direct savings of upwards of $400,000 (not including the savings
from all the lobbying work done by the organization)!
*Recent CFS lobbying work has helped: *
1. Lower the U of M ancillary fees from $465 to $150 per student per year
through the $6.9 grant from the provincial government (and is a continuing
campaign to secure funding from the province).
2. Encourage the federal government to allocate the extra $1.5 billion in the
recent budget for post-secondary education funding
3. Win the right for international students to work off-campus.
4. Keep the tuition fee freeze since 1999 (saving students at least $1000 this
year alone)
5. Keeping GST off of Residence Meal and Room plans (resulting in a savings of
between $350 and $500 depending on a students' plan)
along with many other previous accomplishments. Students of UMSU have benefited
greatly during the last year as trial members of the association and we can
look forward to future CFS lobbying with a
successful "yes" vote in the referendum.
*By pooling our resources, through the CFS, we will have access to high-quality
cost-saving services, such as:*
1. Free International Student Identity Card (ISIC), with travel discounts on
VIA Rail (35%), Greyhound (25%), Air Canada (up to 75%), and many more. The
ISIC costs non-members of the CFS $16.
2. Studentsaver discount card with over 130 discounts at businesses and
services in Manitoba and over 2,500 across the country.
3. Discounted rates for the Student Work Abroad Program for those seeking work
and travel experience in Europe and other regions.
4. The National Student Health Network, which negotiates the best price and
services for health and dental benefits. This year, UMSU saved
$32.59 per student on the plan (over $370,000 collectively) by switching to the
National Student Health Network.
5. A national online housing registry, helping students find housing all over
the country.
6. Exclusive discounts on cell phones through Studentphones.com.
UMSU also saved over $21,000 on the student dayplanners this year (free for all
students), through participating in the CFS common handbook
project!
Vote YES to get discounts that save you money and improve services provided by
your students’ union.
For more information please check out:
1. www.yescfs.ca or www.cfs-fcee.ca
2. the pamphlets and posters around both campuses.
3. the info table in University Centre or Brodie Centre (Bannatyne).
There is much potential for students to have their voices heard in Manitoba and
across the country, and by voting YES in this referendum, united under the same
organization, students will be that much more
influential in trying to affect the quality and cost of our education.
*
Vote YES for a stronger voice for students. Vote YES to the Canadian Federation
of Students. *
Polling stations are located across campus (including U. Centre, Arts, Science,
etc.), and voting is NOT faculty, college or residence specific
(i.e. students can vote at any poll). Polls are open from 8:00am to 7:30pm.
Don't forget to vote on November 8 to 10!
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