The Legislative Council is the legislative arm of the SSMU. Thirty councillors elected by specific constituencies, including school and faculty associations and councils representing particular student demographics, and the seven (7) SSMU Executives comprise the voting members of Council. The Speaker, Parliamentarian, General Manager, and Recording Secretary are non-voting members. According to Article 3 of the SSMU Constitution, Council is the governing body of the Society and “shall be empowered to make all decisions and take all actions on behalf of the Society.”
All SSMU members are welcome to attend open sessions of Council, which are generally held every second Thursday beginning at 6pm. In the Fall 2020 semester, all sessions of Council will be conducted via Zoom. If you would like to attend these online sessions as a member of the gallery, please fill out this form.
For 2020-2021, the dates of Council are:
Fall Semester
September 8, 2020 via Zoom
September 24, 2020 via Zoom
October 8, 2020 via Zoom
October 22, 2020 via Zoom
November 5, 2020 via Zoom
November 19, 2020 via Zoom
December 3, 2020 via ZoomWinter Semester
January 14, 2021 via Zoom
January 28, 2021 via Zoom
February 11, 2021 via Zoom
February 25, 2021 via Zoom
March 11, 2021 via Zoom
March 25, 2021 via Zoom
April 8, 2021 via ZoomWhile Council is run according to Code Véronneau, its proceedings should be accessible to all members; don’t hesitate to ask the Speaker, Parliamentarian or a Councillor (including Executives) how you can participate in the debate. Council meetings can last several hours, so if you are interested in a particular issue, it may be wise to check the agenda in advance and/or ask a Councillor to contact you (e.g. by text message) when the item relevant to your issue is coming up. The agenda order can also be amended to accommodate your schedule, so get in touch with a Councillor if this is something you require. You can peruse its agenda and “documents in advance” (reports of Executives and Committees, as well as proposed resolutions and policies) below.
Council Documents 2020 – 2021
If for any reason you have any difficulty accessing the documents below, please email the Speaker of Council or the President. You can also follow the Legislative Council on Twitter with the hashtag #SSMULegCouncil!
Council Meeting 2020-09-08
AGENDA
Agenda-Legislative Council 2020-09-08 APPROVEDYOUTUBE VIDEO
2020-09-08 videoMINUTES
Legislative Council Public Minutes 2020-09-08MOTIONS
Motion Regarding the Adoption of the Standing Rules for the 2020-2021 Legislative Council 2020-09-08 APPROVED
Motion Regarding Legislative Council Committee Allocations 2020-09-08 APPROVED
Motion Regarding an Interim Provision for Elections and Referenda Timeline 2020-2021 2020-08-21 APPROVED
Motion Regarding an Interim Provision for Amendments to the McGill Debating Union Constitution 2020-07-08 APPROVED
Motion Regarding an Interim Provision for Amendments to the Human Resources Committee Terms of Reference 2020-06-25 APPROVED
Motion Regarding the Elections and Referenda Timeline 2020-2021 2020-09-08 APPROVED
Notice of Motion Regarding Amendments to the Internal Regulations of Elections and Referenda 2020-09-08 FOR APPROVAL
Notice of Motion Regarding the Adoption of the Human Resources Policy 2020-09-08 FOR APPROVALCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Report – Steering Committee 2020-09-08EXECUTIVES REPORTS
Report – President 2020-09-08
Report – Vice President (Finance) 2020-09-08
Report – Vice President (Student Life, 2020-08-08
Report – Vice President (University Affairs), 2020-09-08COUNCILLOR REPORTS
VOTING RECORD
Legislative Council Record of Votes 2020-09-08SPECIAL GUESTS
Council Meeting 2020-09-24
AGENDA
Agenda-Legislative Council 2020-09-24 APPROVEDMINUTES
Legislative Council Public Minutes 2020-09-24YOUTUBE VIDEO
2020-09-24 videoMOTIONS
Motion Regarding the Adoption of the Human Resources Policy 2020-09-08 APPROVED
Motion Regarding the Creation of the Black Affairs Committee 2020-09-24 APPROVED
Motion Regarding Amendments to the Equity Policy to Ensure Equitable Communications Practices 2020-09-24 APPROVED
Motion Regarding Amendments to the Internal Regulations of Elections and Referenda 2020-09-08 APPROVED
Motion to Call a Special Referendum 2020-09-24 APPROVEDCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Report – Executive Committee 2020-09-24
Report – Steering Committee 2020-09-24EXECUTIVES REPORTS
Report – Vice-President (University Affairs) 2020-09-24
Report – Vice-President (Student Life) 2020-09-24
Report – Vice-President (Finance) 2020-09-24
Report – President 2020-09-24COUNCILLOR REPORTS
Report – Arts Representative 2020-09-24
Report – Arts & Science Representative 2020-09-24
Report – Engineering Representative 2020-09-24
Report – PTOT Representative 2020-09-24
Report – Science Representative 2020-09-24VOTING RECORD
Legislative Council Record of Votes 2020-09-24
SPECIAL GUESTS
Council Meeting 2020-10-08
AGENDA
Agenda-Legislative Council 2020-10-08 APPROVEDMINUTES
Legislative Council Public Minutes 2020-10-08 APPROVEDYOUTUBE VIDEO
2020-10-08 videoMOTIONS
Motion Regarding Amendments to the Equity Policy to Ensure Equitable Communications Practices 2020-09-24 APPROVED
Motion Condemning the GNL Quebec-Gazoduq Energie Saguenay Project 2020-10-08 APPROVED
Motion Regarding Increase and Scope of the Mental Health Fee 2020-10-08 APPROVED
Motion Regarding Renewal of the SSMU Ambassador Fee 2020-10-08 APPROVED
Motion Regarding the Renewal of the Musician’s Collective Fee 2020-10-08 APPROVED
Motion Regarding the SSMU Daycare Fee for Fall 2020 Referendum 2020-10-08 APPROVEDCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Report – Steering Committee 2020-10-08
Report – Executive Committee 2020-10-08
Report – Funding Committee 2020-10-08
Report – Mental Health Committee 2020-10-08EXECUTIVES REPORTS
Report – President 2020-10-08
Report – Vice-President (University Affairs) 2020-10-08
Report – Vice President (Student Life) 2020-10-08
Report – Vice President (Finance) 2020-10-08COUNCILLOR REPORTS
Report – Medicine Representative 2020-10-08
Report – Senator Caucus Representative 2020-10-08
Report – PTOT Representative 2020-09-24
Report – Nursing Representative 2020-10-08
Report – Education Representative 2020-10-08VOTING RECORD
Legislative Council Record of Votes 2020-10-08
SPECIAL GUESTS
Council Meeting 2020-10-22
AGENDA
Agenda-Legislative Council 2020-10-22 APPROVEDMINUTES
Legislative Council Public Minutes 2020-10-22 APPROVEDYOUTUBE VIDEO
2020-10-22 videoMOTIONS
Motion Regarding Nominations to the Society’s Board of Directors 2020-10-22
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Report – Services Committee 2020-10-22
Report – Funding Committee 2020-10-22
Report – Executive Committee 2020-10-22
Report – Steering Committee 2020-10-22EXECUTIVES REPORTS
Report – President 2020-10-22
Report – Vice President (Finance) 2020-10-22
Report – Vice President (Student Life) 2020-10-22
Report – Vice-President (University Affairs) 2020-10-22COUNCILLOR REPORTS
Report -Science Representative 2020-10-22
Report – Management Representative 2020-10-22
Report – Engineering Representative 2020-10-22
Report – Clubs Representative 2020-10-22
Report – Athletics Representative 2020-10-22
Report – Arts Representative Karasick 2020-10-22VOTING RECORD
Legislative Council Record of Votes 2020-10-22
SPECIAL GUESTS
Presentation – UCRU
Presentation – McGill Office of Sustainability
Presentation – Financial CommitteeCouncil Meeting 2020-11-05
AGENDA
Legislative Council Agenda 2020-11-05 APPROVEDMINUTES
Legislative Council Public Minutes 2020-11-05 APPROVED
YOUTUBE VIDEO
2020-11-05 videoMOTIONS
Motion Regarding the Amendment of the Standing Rules for the 2020-2021 Legislative Council 2020-11-05 APPROVED
Motion Regarding Amendment to the Equity Policy and the Implementation of an Equity Triage 2020-11-05 APPROVEDCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Report – Steering Committee 2020-11-05
Report – SSPN 2020-11-05
Report – Funding Committee 2020-11-05
Report – Executive Committee 2020-11-05
Report – Environment Committee 2020-11-05
Report – Clubs Committee (1) 2020-11-05
Report – Clubs Committee (2) 2020-11-05EXECUTIVES REPORTS
Report – Vice President (Student Life) 2020-11-05
Report – Vice-President (University Affairs), 2020-11-05
Report – Vice President (Finance) 2020-11-05
Report – Vice President (External) 2020-11-05
Report – President 2020-11-05COUNCILLOR REPORTS
Report – Science Representative 2020-11-05
Report – Law Representative 2020-11-05
Report – Dentistry Representative 2020-11-05
Report – Arts Representative 2020-11-05VOTING RECORD
Legislative Council Record of Votes 2020-11-05
SPECIAL GUESTS
GENERATIVE DISCUSSION
Generative Discussion – 5 Year PlanCouncil Meeting 2020-11-19
AGENDA
Legislative Council Agenda 2020-11-19 APPROVEDMINUTES
Minutes-Legislative Council-Public-Approved 2020-11-19YOUTUBE VIDEO
2020-11-19 videoMOTIONS
Notice of Motion Regarding Amendments to the Committee Terms of Reference 2020-11-19 FOR APPROVAL
Notice of Motion to Adopt a SSMU 5 Year Plan 2020-11-19 FOR APPROVALCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Report – Executive Committee 2020-11-19
Report – Funding Committee 2020-11-19 APPROVED
Report – Equity Committee – 2020-11-19
Rapport – Commission aux affaires francophones 2020-11-19
Report – Indigenous Affairs Committee 2020-11-19
Report – Steering Committee 2020-11-19EXECUTIVES REPORTS
Report – President 2020-11-19
Report – Vice President (External) 2020-11-19
Report – Vice President (Finance) 2020-11-19
Report – Vice-President (University Affairs) 2020-11-19COUNCILLOR REPORTS
Report – Services Representative 2020-11-19
Report – Social Work Representative 2020-11-19
Report – Senate Caucus Representative 2020-11-19
Report – Management Representative 2020-11-19VOTING RECORD
SPECIAL GUESTS
Presentation – Lester Asset Management 2020-11-19
Presentation – UTILE 2020-11-19Council Meeting 2020-12-3
AGENDA
Legislative Council Agenda 2020-12-03 APPROVEDMINUTES
Minutes-Legislative Council-Public-Approved 2020-12-03MOTIONS
Motion Regarding the Clarification of an International Political Position 2020-12-03 APPROVED
Motion Regarding Amendments to the Committee Terms of Reference 2020-11-19 APPROVED
Motion Regarding Amendments to the SSMU Positions Book 2020-12-03 APPROVED
Motion Regarding an Amendment to the Timeline of Elections and Referenda 2020-12-03 APPROVED
Motion Regarding the Adoption of the Gendered and Sexual Violence Policy 2020-11-19 APPROVED
Motion Regarding the Release of Statements and Official Communications 2020-12-03 APPROVED
Motion to adopt a SSMU 5 Year Plan 2020-11-19 APPROVEDCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Report – Building Operations and Management Committee 2020-12-03
Report – Comprehensive Governance Review Committee 2020-12-03
Report – Executive Committee 2020-12-03
Report – Funding Committee 2020-12-03 APPROVED
Report – Funding Committee 2020-12-03 (2)
Report – Steering Committee 2020-12-03
Report – Accountability Committee 2020-12-03EXECUTIVES REPORTS
Report – President 2020-12-03
Report – Vice President (External) 2020-12-03
Report – Vice-President (Student Life) 2020-12-03
Report – Vice-President (University Affairs) 2020-12-03
Report Vice President (Finance) 2020-12-03COUNCILLOR REPORTS
Report – Arts Representative 2020-12-03
Report – FYC Representative 2020-12-03
Report – Music Representative 2020-12-03VOTING RECORD
Legislative Council Record of Votes 2020-12-03
SPECIAL GUESTS
Presentation – Budget Revisions Fall 2020-12-03 APPROVED
Dept Budget Variance Roll up – Oct. 2020 (Revised) – FinalCouncil Meeting 2021-1-14
AGENDA
Agenda-Legislative Council-Public 2021-01-14 APPROVEDMINUTES
YOUTUBE VIDEO
2020-01-14 videoMOTIONS
Notice of Motion Regarding Amendments to the Committee Terms of Reference 2021-01-14 FOR APPROVAL
Notice of Motion Regarding the Adoption of the Accessibility Policy and the Creation of the Accessibility Committee 2021-01-14 FOR APPROVAL
Notice of Motion Regarding Amendments to Accountability Committee’s Terms of Reference 2021-01-14 FOR APPROVAL
Motion Regarding Vice-President (Sustainability and Operations) Position 2021-01-14 APPROVED
Motion Regarding the Renewal of the Indigenous Solidarity Policy APPROVED
Motion Regarding Legislative Council Committee Allocations 2021-01-14 APPROVED
Motion Regarding Amendments to the Standing Rules for the 2020-2021 Legislative Council 2021-01-14 APPROVEDCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Report – Steering Committee 2021-01-14
Report – Accountability Committee 2021-01-14EXECUTIVES REPORTS
Report-President 2021-01-14
Report – Vice-President (University Affairs) 2021-01-14
Report – Vice-President (Student Life) 2020-01-14
Report – Vice-President (Finance) 2021-01-14
Report – Vice-President (External) 2021-01-14COUNCILLOR REPORTS
VOTING RECORD
Legislative Council Record of Votes 2021-01-14SPECIAL GUESTS
Presentation – Divest McGill Metro Boycott
Presentation – MUSTBUS ISGSpeaker of Council & Parliamentarian
Speaker of Council acts as the chair of Council. They are responsible for the smooth procedural functioning of Council meetings which includes the call to order (which opens the meeting), granting the floor (i.e. giving people permission to speak) and stating motions and putting them to a vote. The Speaker is guided in their tasks by Code Véronneau in addition to the Constitution, Internal Regulations and any relevant resolutions of Council.
Parliamentarian is also responsible for running Council with the Speaker. While the Speaker controls the floor and grants Councillors speaking rights in an appropriate fashion, the Parliamentarian takes care of the organization, projection and amending of motions and reports during Council.
Committees of Council
SSMU Committees make recommendations to Council on everything from the allocation of funding to student groups to the approval of new clubs to the adoption of new policies. Each Councillor sits on at least one SSMU Committee. The Committee Terms of Reference contains all of the information about the various committees at SSMU.
Representatives
The voting members of SSMU’s Legislative Council comprise thirty councillors elected by specific constituencies, including school and faculty associations and councils representing particular student demographics, and the 6 SSMU Executives. The Speakers, Parliamentarian, General Manager, and Recording Secretary are non-voting members.
Councillors’ primary responsibility is to represent the interests of their constituencies in SSMU governance. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with your representatives!
This year’s representatives are:
Constituency Name Email Address Arts Paige Collins artsrep1@ssmu.ca Arts Alex Karasick artsrep2@ssmu.ca
Arts Chip Smith artsrep3@ssmu.ca
Arts Libby Williamson artsrep4@ssmu.ca Arts and Science Polina Litvina artscirep@ssmu.ca Athletics James Mulvaney athleticsrep@ssmu.ca Clubs Hussain Awan clubsrep1@ssmu.ca Clubs clubsrep2@ssmu.ca
Dentistry Tom Lee dentistryrep@ssmu.ca Education Bella Bulhoes edrep@ssmu.ca Environment envirorep@ssmu.ca Engineering Elif Kurkcu engrep1@ssmu.ca Engineering Jake Reed engrep2@ssmu.ca First Year Council (FYC) fycrep@ssmu.ca Inter-Residence Council (IRC) ircrep@ssmu.ca Law Brandon Bonan lawrep@ssmu.ca Management Noah Gundermann managementrep1@ssmu.ca Management Minalou Kunze-Roelens managementrep2@ssmu.ca Medicine Benson Wan medicinerep@ssmu.ca Music musicrep@ssmu.ca Nursing Alaina Ge nursingrep@ssmu.ca PT/OT Mariam Morgan ptotrep@ssmu.ca Science Lorna Fernandez Ciruela sciencerep1@ssmu.ca Science Shivali Sood sciencerep2@ssmu.ca Science Joy Zhang sciencerep3@ssmu.ca Senate Caucus Darshan Daryanani artssenator1@ssmu.ca Senate Caucus Services Noah Merali servicesrep@ssmu.ca Social Work socialworkrep@ssmu.ca Non-Voting Members of Council
Position Name Email Address Speaker of Council Lauren Hill speaker@ssmu.ca Speaker On-Call Sena Lee speaker@ssmu.ca Parliamentarian Wing Wong parliamentarian@ssmu.ca Recording Secretary Sam Haward recsec@ssmu.ca Recording Secretary Lauren Hill recsec@ssmu.ca General Manager Daniel Dufour gm@ssmu.ca
