Graduate student associations are democratic institutions entrusted with significant financial and administrative authority. Each member of the GSA pays a student association fee of $57.28 that generates an operating budget of around $500,000 per year. This shall be utilized to fund programs, and support critical services for graduate students. This places executive and staff members under a fiduciary duty to act in student's interests and in compliance with governance policies and law of the land.​ However, despite this clear obligation to uphold these responsibilities, GSA leadership has failed to maintain compliance with key institutional duties, resulting in consequential complications.

Specific concerns include:

• Financial fraud: Misappropriation, embezzlement, unauthorized transfers, or misuse of student funds
• Procedural violations: Breach of the association's bylaws, unauthorized spending decisions, failure to follow proper approval processes, and circumvention of required oversight mechanisms
• Lack of transparency: Refusal to disclose financial records and documenting decision-making processes for membership oversight
• Governance failure: The Council of Directors has been informed of these violations multiple times but has failed to investigate or address them adequately

This pattern of misconduct undermines the democratic principles that student associations are meant to embody. According to recent research, Canadian student unions—including graduate associations—have experienced governance crises, with unelected staff sometimes wielding excessive power and democratic oversight mechanisms failing.​

By signing this petition, you are calling for:

1. An independent, external investigation (not led by current GSA leadership) into all alleged financial irregularities and procedural violations
2. Full transparency: Public disclosure of findings, remedial actions, and measures to prevent future misconduct
3. Student protection: Guarantee that no student who raises concerns in good faith will face retaliation, intimidation, or discrimination—consistent with Canada's emerging whistleblower protections and principles of natural justice​
4. Accountability: That individuals responsible for fraud or violations face appropriate consequences
5. Governance reform: Implementation of stronger oversight, financial controls, and transparency mechanisms in the GSA

Your membership fees fund this association. You have the right to know how they are being managed and to hold leadership accountable.