Membership in the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) – NO
Along with many student associations across Canada, the Post-Graduate Students’ Society (PGSS) has been involved in a long and expensive legal battle with the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) since the federation failed to recognize a disaffiliation vote in 2010. It is ironic that CFS, whose campaigns include protecting the right to vote, is going to extreme lengths to prevent, delay, or disqualify democratic votes of disassociation, while squandering student fees on costly court cases. CFS has also been wildly ineffective in representing student interests, especially in Quebec. Since 2009, Quebec has had effectively no representation on the national CFS executive, and every single member association in Quebec has left CFS or is attempting to hold a disaffiliation referendum. Although CFS membership would cost PGSS over $100,000 a year in dues, the benefits it provides are essentially non-existent. The Daily thus endorses a “no” vote in the CFS membership referendum, while recognizing that PGSS members already made the decision to leave in 2010.
—The McGill Daily Editorial Board