Application of the Procedures for Non-Members to Address the Governing Council, its Boards and Committees

1. Updated List of Officially Recognized Campus Groups in Part “A” of Procedures for Non-Members to Address the Governing Council, its Boards and Committees.

Procedures for Non-Members to Address the Governing Council, its Boards and Committees was originally approved by the Governing Council on October 15, 1992, and revised by the Governing Council on March 9, 1995. Since that time, there have been some changes and additions to the officially recognized campus groups that are referred to in Section “A” of the approved Procedures.

The current officially recognized campus groups are:

APUS Associations of Part-time Undergraduate Students
ECSU

Erindale College Students' Union (currently operating under the name University of Toronto at Mississauga Students' Union - UTMSU)

GSU Graduate Students' Union
SAC Students' Administrative Council (currently operating under the name University of Toronto Students' Union - UTSU)
SCSU Scarborough Campus Students' Union
UTFA University of Toronto Faculty Association
USWA United Steel Workers of America

2. Principles Guiding the Application of Part “B” of Procedures for Non- Members to Address the Governing Council, its Boards and Committees.

At its meeting on January 24, 2000, the Executive Committee considered the Procedures for Non-Members to Address Governing Council, Its Boards and Committees, paying particular attention to the following:

  • (a) the overarching need for the Governing Council to conduct its business within a limited number of two-and-one-half hour meetings;
  • (b) the need to ensure proper processing of issues, and channeling of discussion through established governance processes -- and the need to avoid short circuiting those processes;
  • (c) the need for the Council to hear from recognized campus groups;
  • (d) any previous opportunities for non-members to address various Boards and Committees of the Governing Council on various issues;
  • (e) the appropriateness of speakers being redirected to address the relevant Board or Committee;
  • (f) the level of detail provided in the speaking requests;
  • (g) the timing of addresses by non-members in relation to agenda items;
  • (h) past experience in applying the Procedures; and
  • (i) the permissible length of time for non-members to address the Governing Council.

After a full discussion, the Executive Committee approved the following resolution:
THAT, in its application of the Procedures for Non-Members to Address the Governing Council, its Boards and Committees, part B, “With Respect to Items not on Agendas”, the Executive Committee would be guided by the following principles.

  1. Statements from individuals are permitted at the discretion of the Executive Committee and are not granted as of right. In light of experience, the Committee is of the view that applicants for such speaking privileges should demonstrate that there exists a sound reason for the request from the individual to speak to this topic (i.e. that there would be real value added to the Council’s deliberations and without damage to, or duplication of, normal governance procedures);
  2. ​​​​​​​Statements by individuals and groups who wish to address the Governing Council on items not on the agenda will normally be heard at the outset of the meeting;
  3. ​​​​​​​Consistent with By-law Number 2, speakers will be required to limit their remarks to five minutes. There will be no exceptions to this rule;
  4. ​​​​​​​There will be no Governing Council debate or discussion of statements by non- members at the time of the speaker’s address. Members of the Governing Council may comment under “Other Business”; and
  5. ​​​​​​​Speaking privileges will be considered only for non-members who provide reasonably well-developed proposals meeting the above criteria in a timely fashion, normally for the Executive Committee meeting at which the Governing Council agenda is set. Speakers should outline their reasons for wishing to address the Council and their particular role with respect to the issue they are bringing forward.