Clubs & Associations Referendum 2026

Your voice, your decision.

“Do you support a$5 per-semester Clubs and Associations Fee, beginning in Summer Semester 2027, with annual adjustments limited to the Consumer Price Index (CPI)*, to support the sustainable funding, operation, and development of student Clubs and Associations at UFV?”

Why the introduction of this new fee?

In January 2023, SUS passed an ordinary resolution to establish and support the Clubs & Associations program, including a $300,000 transfer from the Health & Dental Reserve Surplus. This funding was intended to help launch and sustain the program during its initial years.

As this initial funding was not intended to provide a permanent source of support, a long-term funding model is now needed to continue providing club funding, resources and program support. The upcoming referendum will ask students to consider a dedicated Clubs & Associations Fee to support the program into the future.

Full referendum details, including the proposed fee and voting information, will be announced in the coming weeks.

Q & A Events

Q&A Tabling
15 September | 11:30AM - 2PM
Abbotsford campus-Building S

SUB Atrium

Q&A Tabling
17 September | 11:30AM - 2PM
CEP campus-Building A

East Atrium (H1300) ‍ ‍

Q&A Tabling
24 September | 2:30PM - 6PM
Abbotsford campus-Building S

SUB Atrium

What if referendum doesn’t pass?

If the referendum does not pass, SUS will not have a dedicated source of funding to continue the Clubs & Associations program at its current level.

The one-time funding approved through the 2023 Ordinary Resolution was intended to provide temporary support for the program and is not a permanent funding source. Without a new source of funding, SUS would need to review the level of resources and support available to Clubs & Associations.

This may result in reduced direct funding for clubs, changes to the C&A platform, and reductions to administrative support, resources, events, or other services currently available through the program.

The exact impact would depend on available resources and future budget decisions, but without a dedicated source of funding, the C&A program would be unable to continue at its current level.

If approved, the Clubs & Association Fee will be adjusted each year based on the official Canadian Consumer Price Index published by Statistics Canada.  The CPI rate used will be the most recent published national CPI available prior to March 1 of each year.

CPI Indexing means:

  • The fee may increase in line with inflation.

  • The adjustment will be applied once per academic year.

  • The adjusted fee will take effect in the Fall semester.

  • Any fee adjustments will not exceed the published CPI rate.

Example: If the annual CPI rate published in January is 1%, the fee would increase by 1% the following academic year.  If CPI is 0%, there would be no increase.

For more information on how CPI adjustments are applied, check SUS inflation policy.

Implementation details

If the referendum passes, the $5 per semester Clubs & Associations Fee would take effect beginning in Summer 2027.

Revenue from the fee would provide a dedicated and sustainable source of funding for the Clubs & Associations program. Funding would support areas including:

  • Direct funding opportunities for recognized Clubs & Associations

  • Continued access to the C&A platform for club administration, funding requests, and program management

  • Staffing and administrative support for Clubs & Associations

  • Resources, equipment, and supplies available to student groups

  • Training and support for club executives

  • Events and initiatives that strengthen student engagement and campus community

  • Ongoing development and improvement of the Clubs & Associations program

The fee would allow SUS to plan for the program on a longer-term basis rather than relying on temporary or one-time funding sources.

SUS would continue to review how C&A funds are allocated to ensure they are used responsibly, transparently, and in ways that provide meaningful benefit to students.

What is CPI Indexing?

Voting

From October 14th - 17th, a special ballot will be sent to your UFV student email. Make sure to vote for the changes you wish to see.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • A referendum is a vote where all SUS members (students who are enrolled and have paid SUS fees) get to decide directly on a specific question that affects student life. It is allows SUS members vote yes or no on a clearly worded proposal rather than leaving the decision to representatives.

  • A referendum matters because it gives students real decision making power. Instead of just hoping that someone speaks on our behalf, we get to vote on issues that impact our fees, services, student spaces, resources, or the way our student union operates.

    Referendums also make sure important changes have proper support. SUS only acts on a referendum if at least five percent of students vote and if the majority approves the change. This protects the integrity of the process and makes sure the result reflects meaningful student involvement.

  • Stay informed

    You can learn about upcoming referendums by watching for SUS posters, website updates, and press releases. These are shared at least thirty days before voting starts, and they give you a chance to understand what the question is about. SUS also hosts question and answer sessions on the Abbotsford and Chilliwack campuses where you can talk directly with the referendum organizers.

    Vote during the polling period

    Voting is online, which makes it easy for all students to participate. The poll stays open for at least seventy two hours over at least four business days, so students have time to read up on the issue and submit their vote. Every SUS member gets one vote.