TRU looking to sever ties with Canadian Federation of Students amidst allegations of fraud

KAMLOOPS – The Thompson Rivers University Student Union have supported a motion to separate themselves from the Canadian Federation of Students alleging lies, intimidation and election fraud.

During the B.C. Chapter of the Canadian Federation of Students semi-annual meeting earlier this month, members essentially called for a vote of no confidence.

“The progressive coalition that once led the Canadian Federation of Students has been irreparably betrayed by forces outside British Columbia and there exists little benefit to maintaining congruency or a unified identity between the provincial and national entities," according to the motion.

The B.C. Federation is considering replacing the Canadian Federation.

Thompson Rivers vice-president external Amber Storvold admits the university doesn’t yet know the repercussions of the motion.   

“Since it’s just been passed, we don’t know how it will affect students,” she says.

The motion alleges a laundry list of misdeeds, mostly stemming from the most recent Canadian Federation of Students semi-annual meeting in June.

Not only is the B.C. Federation alleging their members were belittled and disrespected during the meeting, but they say there was electoral fraud and mismanagement of funds. While the national body announced there were funds which were unaccounted for, they didn’t disclose what they would do with the money.

“No one from TRU actually experienced this harassment,” Storvold says. She explains the university voted in favour of the motion because of the number of issues the B.C. chapter of the Federation of Students experienced with the national leadership.  

The motion also asks for the resignation of two national members and the firing of two employees on the Canadian Federation’s payroll.

The B.C. Federation will meet again in January to decide definitively whether to separate from its national counterpart.

Until then Storvold says the Thompson Rivers’ Student Union will maintain the status quo.

“We will continue our day to day operating,” she says.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Dana Reynolds at dreynolds@infonews.ca or call 250-819-6089. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.