KSA proposes to delete and replace their bylaws at Sept. 26 special general meeting

Editor’s note: The previous version of the article stated that students who are members of the Matsqui First Nation would be eligible for the proposed Indigenous student tuition waiver. The Runner regrets the error. 

The Kwantlen Student Association will propose deleting and replacing all their bylaws, which would limit student involvement in the union and restrict access to council meetings, at a special general meeting (SGM) on Sept. 26 at 11:00 am at Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Richmond campus.

The motion to delete and replace the bylaws also comes with a change to grant the KSA’s executive director with the power to “sign all documents and take all actions that are necessary, desirable or useful in carrying out the replacement of the Bylaws.”

According to the SGM agenda, the proposed bylaw changes will resolve “ambiguities and gaps” and will bring the KSA’s bylaws into alignment with the Societies Act, which the KSA is governed by. 

The proposed changes would make council meetings private, with only council members and the executive director having access. This means students would no longer be able to attend or voice their opinions during council meetings, unless decided upon by a council resolution. 

Media would be barred from attending meetings. If allowed in a meeting, the media would only be allowed to record its first five minutes. 

Those who are elected council members but not registered in a course or program would be allowed to remain a member of the KSA so long as they pay student society fees for each semester. There is nothing stipulated in the proposed bylaws that requires members to be enrolled students. 

Council terms would also extend to two years, meaning the KSA general elections would take place every two years instead of once per year. The next election would take place in 2027, allowing current council members to stay in their positions for a total of three years. 

There would also be changes to council representative positions, including the creation of a new domestic student constituency representative, and limiting faculty representatives to one student, lowering the amount of seats on council. 

Students would no longer be able to be part of or contribute to council’s various standing committees if the proposed changes pass. Students would also no longer have any say when it comes to borrowing money. The KSA’s current bylaws state that a debenture must not be issued without a special resolution approved by students, and that students can restrict the borrowing powers of council. Both of these conditions are removed in the proposed bylaws. 

Election nomination periods would be shortened from no less than 14 days to seven days, and the notice for nomination periods would drop to seven days. The KSA would also not need to physically advertise when elections are taking place with posters. Maximum polling days would be limited from eight to four days. 

Students would no longer be able to petition changes to KSA’s regulations. The regulations can also be suspended, created, and altered without council giving students any notice about the amendments. 

The proposed bylaw changes would only allow council members to call an SGM by two-thirds resolution, which would remove students’ ability to call one through a signed petition, as can be done currently. 

When the KSA decides to call a general meeting, whether it be annual or special, they would no longer need to physically advertise it with posters, and notice of such meetings would be shortened from 21 to 14 days. 

These same changes would apply to when the KSA holds a referendum. The bylaws would also limit the matter of a referendum by a student petition to student society fees. The petition would need at least 250 student signatures to be considered valid. Currently, only 100 signatures are needed.  

The KSA president is currently not allowed to vote on the executive committee, which the proposed bylaws would allow. The vice-president (VP) finance and operations position would also be split into two positions — VP finance and VP operations. The president would also become a separate position, increasing the executive committee from four to six members. Each executive committee member currently receives a bi-weekly stipend pay of $1,592.80. This does not include the associate president, who receives an honorarium of $9,000 per semester. 

The proposed bylaws also increase the number of regularly scheduled council meetings from one to two. Councillors currently receive an honorarium of $100 per meeting they attend. Motions could also be brought to the floor by the consent of two members of the executive committee or a two-thirds council resolution, instead of receiving unanimous consent. 

Appointing an external speaker of council would become optional, something which is currently mandatory. This means the KSA president, VPs, and councillors would be eligible to chair council meetings as the speaker. As per the current bylaws, speakers of council can not hold elected or staff positions within the KSA and should be non-voting members. 

The chief returning officer (CRO), who oversees elections, would also no longer be allowed to be a KPU student, employee, or KSA staff member. Council would also be able to remove a CRO by a two-thirds resolution. 

The council would be able to conduct regular business in the absence of an executive director — who would be responsible to the council and executive committee — if the role becomes vacant. 

“Can I just know why we need to delete all the bylaws,” Faculty of Science and Horticulture Representative Ranveer Singh asked during a council meeting on Sept. 4. 

“This all has come from legal counsel,” Associate President Ishant Goyal said. 

As per the KSA’s bylaws, any changes to the bylaws require 21 days notice. The Societies Act states a notice of 14 days is required. 

“After discussion with the legal counsel, as long as we’re compliant with the Societies Act of 14 days notice, we will still be in our rights as KSA,” said Executive Director Timothii Ragavan during the meeting.  

A constitution amendment will also be proposed at the SGM, which would delete purpose eight, stating, “Subject to the provision contained under Section 35 of the Society Act to borrow, raise and secure the payment of money in such a manner as the society sees fit.”

According to the meeting agenda, the amendment is a recommendation from the KSA’s legal counsel, and the purpose is out of date in relation to the Societies Act. 

Council also plans to propose an Indigenous student fee waiver. If passed, the KSA would waive all fees, except for the UPass and extended health and dental coverage, for incoming and current KPU students who are members of the Kwantlen, Katzie, Semiahmoo, Musqueam, Tsawwassen, Qayqayt, and Kwikwetlem First Nations. 

The SGM was initially planned for Sept. 20 before council rescheduled it. 

The agenda can be found on the KSA’s website. At least 60 KPU students must be in attendance for the meeting to take place. 

The agenda item to delete and replace the KSA’s bylaws is a special resolution, which requires at least 150 students to be present for the vote to take place. The resolution will only be approved if at least 75 per cent of students vote favourably. The constitution amendment is also a special resolution.

The Indigenous student fee waiver is an ordinary resolution, which requires a majority vote to pass. 

KPU students wanting to attend the SGM must bring their student IDs with them to be permitted into the meeting. No bags will be allowed inside the venue. Light refreshments will be provided, and there will be prizes for students to win, according to the KSA’s website. 

For more information about the SGM, visit kusa.ca/sgm/.