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Senators to be reimbursed for campaigns

The University Students’ Council has announced they will reimburse student senators up to $75 for their election campaign expenses this year. While the USC has reimbursed council and presidential candidates for over a decade, student senator candidates have never received compensation for their campaign expenses.

“The purpose of the reimbursement is to help off-set the cost for running a campaign,” Andrew Forgione, USC president, said. He explained this amount is open to increase in future years depending on the elections reimbursement budget, to ensure student senators and board of governors representatives will be able to run a campaign without feeling a financial burden. According to Forgione, the new policy will be funded by the decrease in the USC presidential budget.

The university senate is made up of student, faculty, and administration representatives, and is concerned mainly with academic policy. There are 14 undergraduate student senators and four graduate student senators.

David Ulbrych, a candidate for senator-at-large and former affiliate senator, said past senators had questioned the logic of reimbursing candidates for the USC but not for senate. “The part that was really hard for senators to deal with was that our elections were run through the USC, and we had to follow USC policy and USC procedure, yet unlike the councillors and the faculty and USC president, we were not reimbursed,” he said. “It’s great to hear that it’s finally happening.”

Forgione explained this increase means financial barriers which may have prevented candidates from running in the past, has been lowered and a greater opportunity has been granted to a larger portion of the Western community. He added he hoped to see an increase in candidates in the future. “[It would be] a good sign, since it shows that students care about the democratic process and want to be a part of this fantastic institution,” he said.

“The budget is determined by the number of students in a constituency, and the candidates receive five cents per voter as a budget, up to a maximum of $150,” Brianne Peniuk, the USC chief returning officer, said.

“I can’t see myself spending more than $75 unless I absolutely have to,” Stephanie Connor, candidate for senator-at-large, said. “I think this amount is just fine to run a campaign.” Connor mentioned she appreciates the money to help with her campaign, but her dedication to representing students would mean running her campaign regardless of the cost.

Andrew Fedyk, another candidate for senator-at-large, said the reimbursement evens the playing field. He planned to stay within the $75 limit for his campaign, and felt this budget would enable to avoid a battle of spending within campaigns.

—with files from Julian Uzielli

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