Despite being labelled as “permanently closed” online and maintaining a website filled with outdated information, a coalition of student unions is defending itself as an active entity deserving of fees in spite of its low profile.
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Despite being labelled as “permanently closed” online and maintaining a website filled with outdated information, a coalition of student unions is defending itself as an active entity deserving of fees in spite of its low profile.
Despite being labelled as “permanently closed” online and maintaining a website filled with outdated information, a coalition of student unions is defending itself as an active entity deserving of fees in spite of its low profile.
The Canadian Federation of Students and its local chapter, better known as CFS-MB, collect annual membership dues from campuses across the province to support their advocacy work.
Alan Saji Koshy’s advice to new and returning students to the University of Winnipeg? “Start asking questions.”
The U of W Students’ Association is urging students to ask questions about a national coalition the association says provides little value.
“We pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for practically no benefit and students don’t even know (CFS-MB resources) exist,” the recent graduate and former student association president said.
Last year, in addition to 2025-26 tuition and textbook rates, U of W students each had to pay about $20 to the federation, including $11.30 to the national entity and $7.50 to CFS-MB. Those dues amounted to about $170,000.
Saji Koshy said he repeatedly asked CFS-MB for a breakdown of how those funds were being spent to better the lives of students during his tenure as president of the University of Winnipeg Students’ Association.
“There is no accountability,” he said, adding he found there was a disconnect between CFS-MB’s promises and what it delivered, as well as the urgency placed on collecting dues versus how it treated members’ requests last year.
An online search of the Manitoba chapter via either Google or Microsoft Bing yields a red banner declaring the organization has shuttered for good.
The last time CFS-MB published a campaign update on its official website — which includes outdated executive and staff information and a call out for commissioner candidates for the 2021-22 academic year — was more than four years ago. The organization’s most recent public post on Facebook is dated Jan. 27, 2023.
Both websites, cfsmb.ca and facebook.com/cfsmb, respectively, list a phone number that is out of service.
Source: Read the original article on www.winnipegfreepress.com
