On February 7, the University of Toronto Mississauga Students’ Union (UTMSU) held an emergency Board of Directors (BOD) meeting to discuss levy fees and a regular BOD meeting on February 15, continuing motions raised at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) which took place in November 2024. 

The meetings covered budget approvals, election procedure amendments, levy increases, and debates over the relocation of the Sexual Education Centre (SEC) and proposed makerspace.

Levy increases 

The emergency BOD meeting focused on proposals for cost-of-living-based levy fee increases for student-funded programs, following Statistics Canada’s December 2024 Consumer Price Index (CPI) data.

The UTMSU Student Society Membership Fee was raised from $41.11 to $41.85 per session for full-time students. The Academic Society Fees — which funds 17 student societies — rose from $1.30 to $1.32 for all UTM students. The Food Bank Fee increased from $0.70 to $0.71 for all UTM students.

The Student Refugee Program Fee that supports refugee students at UTM increased to $2.31 per session for full-time students. The First Aid Emergency Response Fee — which funds a volunteer group of medical responders who provide emergency first aid to UTM community members — rose from $0.67 to $0.68. 

The Canadian Federation of Students Fee — a student advocacy organization that funds on-campus campaigns — increased from $9.74 to $9.92 per student. The Downtown Legal Services Fee — which provides U of T students free legal advice on housing matters, employment disputes, and academic offences and appeals — went up from $1.30 to $1.32 for all UTM students. 

The House Canada Fee — used for their mission of creating affordable student housing — and Regenesis UTM Fee — used for green initiatives on campus — increased from $5.00 to $5.09 for full-time students. 

All fee increases were approved. 

Executive reports

At the regular BOD meeting, Vice-President (VP) of University Affairs Sidra Ahsan updated the union on the Undergraduate Research Symposium set for March. 

UTMSU President Joelle Salsa and VP External Daniel Ripoll discussed their recent meeting with Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish, proposing new MiWay transit lines and collaborating on housing solutions.

VP Internal Ronny Chen announced that the union will begin the process of hiring a Deputy Returning Officer, who is responsible for assisting the Chief Returning Officer and the Elections & Referenda Committee in ensuring a fair election process for the 2025 UTMSU elections. Chen also announced a hiring committee to select the next Executive Director, who acts as the chief administrator of the union and ensures accounting record maintenance. 

Makerspace proposal gains support

A motion from the AGM to create a makerspace at UTM was discussed at the UTMSU regular BOD meeting. The space would provide students access to 3D printers, sewing machines, VR headsets, and other equipment for hands-on learning and creativity. 

Dakoda Kelm — a second-year UTM student studying philosophy and applied mathematics — proposed the motion. They went on to say that there are limited available 3D printers and VR headsets at the UTM Library, which are restricted for academic use. 

“Since COVID-19, pretty much all campuses across the country have seen a decrease in student participation… I think that UTM was especially affected by this, given that we have such a high commuter population within our student base,” Kelm explained. 

He also suggested that a makerspace could help UTMSU generate independent revenue by proposing ideas like selling fabric or charging a small fee for printer use. The motion passed, directing the UTMSU to research funding opportunities and to assess the feasibility of a makerspace. 

SEC reallocation sparks controversy 

A heated discussion centred on a proposed relocation of the SEC, a levy-funded organization that provides reproductive health resources, peer support, and menstrual products. The SEC is set to move from Room 150 to a smaller space upstairs in the Student Centre. 

SEC Office Manager Clarice Wu opposed the move, noting that SEC serves students every day. They added that, since October 2024, they have distributed over 2,500 condoms and gave 170 pregnancy and ovulation tests. They argued that a smaller space would discreetly create barriers for students seeking resources. 

UTMSU Executive Director Felipe Nagata clarified that while no decision has been made, discussions suggest the space could become a bookable area for student groups. 

The SEC has agreed to relocate by April, with further discussions expected in a summer BOD meeting. However, no date has been set yet.

Upcoming levy 

Chen presented the UTMSU and Blind Duck Pub operating budgets, emphasizing financial planning amid rising costs. The Blind Duck Pub projected a $54,000 deficit due to increased food and labour costs, but prices were not raised for students. The board approved the budget as presented. 

The union made amendments to a referendum question proposed during the meeting which incorrectly stated the levy amount. 

The amended question states the Blind Duck Pub Levy Fee will increase from $3.25 to $3.25 with annual adjustment of CPI per session for full-time and part-time students, the Student Centre Levy Fee from $12.50 to $12.50 with annual adjustment of CPI per session for full-time students and $3.75 to $3.75 with annual adjustment of CPI per session for part-time students. 

The motion passed, and the referendum question will be voted on in the upcoming election.

With the UTMSU elections beginning February 24, the board approved Election Procedure Code amendments, as recommended by the Election and Referendum Committee. 

The changes clarified campaign rules, material approval processes, and election tie procedures. Outdated terms were revised to align with UTMSU bylaws. Campaign materials no longer require re-approval if the content remains the same across different mediums. Election ties will now result in a runoff election within 14 days, or if not possible, a board vote following candidate presentations. 

The motion passed.