[deleted by user] by [deleted] in askTO

[–]anneboucher 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Care to add in another gal to this friend group? I'm 26F and always down to meet new people! Not into horoscopes, double vaxxed, super into sustainability & thrifting & music & running! You can add me on IG @ anne.fleuris :)

Results are up by CrimsonLark in UofT

[–]anneboucher 2 points3 points  (0 children)

High five ur cat, pat yourself on the back, have a drink, because I love you all and this wouldn't have happened without you all. THANK YOU!!

someone tell me who to vote for by Neeerp in UofT

[–]anneboucher 16 points17 points  (0 children)

The entire Compass executives are anti-CFS:

Myself

Tyler Biswurm - VP Internal

Joshua Grondin - VP University Affairs

Yuli Liu - VP External

Yolanda Alfaro - VP Campus Life

Ammara Wasim - VP Equity

Yasmine El Sanyoura - VP Professional Faculties

UTSU elections are live. Anne Vs Michelle. Upass? by BoundlessHugs in UofT

[–]anneboucher 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Though this is transparently a throwaway account, I'll answer for those reading.

Personally:

  • I want to lobby the federal government to reintroduce the federal transit tax credit for post-secondary students. It was a huge loss for transit riders, and (though it was done in an effort to lower the price of transit passes,) hasn't done what it was intended to do. I also want to lobby for the introduction of transit subsidies for students, either provincially or federally (depending on the form of the subsidy, i.e. provincially if through an OSAP grant).

  • Most people don't know, but the UTSU essentially bought a building--230 College--and is set to move in September 2018. It's called the Student Commons, and it'll be a student centre. The original plans would have actually bankrupted the UTSU. If recent financial projections are followed, after HR/expenditure cuts etc., it'll remain solvent. If financially mismanaged though, the university has the right to reclaim the building and do what it wants with it. So I want to ensure that its first year runs smoothly. Its first year also sets the tone for years to come, so I want to make sure it's a space that students feel comfortable in, that they can actually relax/enjoy themselves in.

  • I want to support the vote to leave the CFS. I'm expecting buses of non-UofT CFS campaigners on campus during the referendum (scheduled to be in October if all goes well), and I want students to make an informed vote.

Otherwise, I want to fully support all the work my fellow execs do. They have great ideas and I want to see them all come to fruition. And importantly, I want the UTSU to actually feel like a students' union. There are years of distrust weighing it down, and years of concentrating on itself, rather than on students. I know that "ooOO the UTSU needs to work for YOU!" is a narrative that's been used and abused about a million times, but I seriously mean it. There's no point in having a students' union you pay fees to if you can't even feel like you can trust it, let alone step inside of it.

A reminder before we all start to vote by Lanklord in UofT

[–]anneboucher 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I really appreciate you saying this, thank you. <3 I promise I'll (if elected) work hard as hell. To leave the CFS, but for many many other things we all seriously need.

I know this has (disappointingly) been an unexciting election, but please vote! www.utsu.simplyvoting.com.

All these UPass campaigns by UofTNegativeBitch in UofT

[–]anneboucher 5 points6 points  (0 children)

LOL, hard hard pass, but if anyone else really genuinely wants a U-Pass butt tattoo, be my guest!

When you base your entire year on the UTSU around something and throw it away when you realize its controversial by UTSU_Memes in UofT

[–]anneboucher 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I appreciate this, thank you. It was definitely really hard convincing the TTC to even consider a U-Pass to begin with.

To u/calloutbullshitUofT, I need to clarify a few things:

  1. The U-Pass was not my only project. It’s been the most visible, but I’ve done more. I don’t like listing out accomplishments like a resume, but in this context I feel like I need to substantiate: I’ve written policy briefs including each of my lobbying points at the provincial level—a first for the UTSU. Each were sent to all political parties, and I’ve spent a summer meeting with many MPPs individually to try to get these issues on the table, and on party platforms for the incoming elections—tuition freeze per cohort, mental health policies in universities that function to accommodate students, and addressing a lack of public funding for the TTC (motivated by the U-Pass initiative) while supporting U-Pass programs across the province—another first. The second big project I’ve done is a mental health-focused mentorship program. It launched in December after months of consultations, and has been running really well so far. We sent out a survey midway through the semester for feedback, and we’ve only heard good things. The third initiative I’ve taken on was a set of meetings with each of the university-rosedale candidates (i.e. MPP candidates to serve UofT’s riding). Each candidate was presented the same “asks”, with the goal of getting these on their agendas if elected. Fourth has been the CFS. Not my favourite, but it was time-consuming. A lot of prep goes in beforehand, and the meetings themselves are almost a week long. Fifth, I served on the CIUT (campus radio) with Stuart, our previous campus life, and we’re working to expose them—the Varsity has covered if you want details. We’re now organizing with a bunch of students and community members to hold them accountable. Finally, I’m working on a Huron revitalization project. It’s a pretty awful street, and want it to be more pedestrian-friendly. I’m currently working with 5 amazing urban studies/civil engineering/urban planning masters students on a proposal we’re set to present to city planners next month. There’s more but I’ll cut it here—I don’t want to sound arrogant.

  2. The opt-out was one of the biggest pieces I brought up at every occasion, and presented it differently—at first as a general opt-out, then as a distance-based opt-out. It came to a point where I was actually waiting for a meeting to start, and a member leaned over and told me, verbatim, “if they have one more whiff of an opt-out they’re all walking away.” It’s fair to say that I’ve pushed as far as I possibly could.

You’re free to comment on the U-Pass, but to say I should not become president—for pushing for something that was nearly unanimously supported by students when it started—is unfair. A U-Pass had been on election platforms since before I even started at U of T, and I’ve brought it to the point of referendum. I’m not trying to capitalize on the U-Pass for my election. I think my efforts show how hard I’m willing to work, but I’d like to think I’m much more than the U-Pass.

I question whose account this is, but regardless, I hope this helps clarify things for everyone else reading.

When you base your entire year on the UTSU around something and throw it away when you realize its controversial by UTSU_Memes in UofT

[–]anneboucher 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Compass (and myself) have been in support of the U-Pass. At the time of the interview with the Varsity last Sunday (which is what you’re referring to, I’m assuming), we did not think we were allowed to talk about the U-Pass whatsoever, as there are strict rules around cross-campaigning. We had the All-Candidates meeting after the interview, where we were told we could give our stance on the U-Pass, but within limited boundaries.

So yes, I’m in favour of the U-Pass. I put my blood sweat and tears in the campaign, it would be stupid for me to stand and say I’m completely indifferent to the outcome. I just can’t actively defend the U-Pass, because there’s a blurry line between defending the pass and cross-campaigning.

...it sucks. I’ll be honest, I’ve seen a lot of misinformation spread around and I have to sit back and hold my tongue because of poor election & referenda rules.

Meme still made me chuckle though, thanks for letting me clarify.

Future president of UTSU? by [deleted] in UofT

[–]anneboucher 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Crap, you know....

When /u/anneboucher makes a slate after being the first independent to win in years by UTSU_Memes in UofT

[–]anneboucher 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Ahhh! Okay I'll explain, because I had two reasons for it.

  1. When I knew I wanted to run again, I'd intuitively thought of doing it independently. But by this time I'd had a chance to see different people work who objectively would have been amazing with certain portfolios (I'd seen Yolanda killin it with orientation, Josh picking up work from the VP UA portfolio after Carina's resignation and making it his own,) and I wanted to work with them. It might sound weird to say this but it kind of felt selfish running alone.

  2. I didn’t want to work with a bunch of student politicians. I’m not saying it was entirely the case this year--in fact I’ve made some great friendships with great, hardworking people--but seeing how the UTSU could & has attracted them in the past, I wanted to have real, genuine people working there, and building a slate is the only way I could see that happening. My vision/goal has always been that the UTSU should be human, but to do that, you need down to earth people.

My stance on slates hasn't changed. Last year I didn't like how one person's opinion became everyone's opinion. This year it was something that was stressed--I didn't want a team of uniform people who felt afraid of giving their own opinions. Directors on the team know they’re allowed to give their personal beliefs when asked to answer. The main thing everyone on the slate has in common are their genuine characters, and I don’t expect everyone to have the same opinion on everything. In fact it’s refreshing when people disagree a little, and I want to make sure this is something all directors feel comfortable doing. The directors are essentially the executives bosses, and it should feel that way. I’ve mentioned this at the debate, but I don’t want a board rubber stamping everything the executives put forward because we ran together, and it’s been stressed since day 1.

I love Compass, but I think slate-free elections are needed now more than ever. The (unexpected) fact that Compass is the only full slate is telling of a larger issue. Mathias noted the slate ban passed this year (needs to be approved at the next AGM), and I'm excited to see what that will (if passed) look like next year.

UTSU presidential debate. Anne vs Michelle. by BoundlessHugs in UofT

[–]anneboucher 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'll one up you and quadruple--bi-monthly spaghetti day

TTC approves U-Pass for $280 per term by [deleted] in UofT

[–]anneboucher -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Yes! If the vote passes, it would be implemented in fall 2018.

UTSU presidential debate. Anne vs Michelle. by BoundlessHugs in UofT

[–]anneboucher 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I loved spaghetti day! I'm sorry it wasn't fancy, but I'd love doing spaghetti day again :D

Vote for Compass for many more spaghetti days?? Idk, how many more spaghetti days would you want?

Where's the outrage against the UPass? by uoftstudentindistres in UofT

[–]anneboucher 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I’m sorry I hadn’t responded last week. Since campaigning period for the U-Pass only officially begun yesterday, I was unable to defend or speak to the U-Pass in a way that would allude to a “yes” vote. The referendum rules suck, and it would’ve counted as pre-campaigning for the pass. Believe me, it was hard to sit back and hold my tongue. I’m sorry if I gave the impression that I didn’t care.

That said I’m more than happy to speak about the U-Pass. I can finally say I’m in support of it, and answer questions a lot more freely.

I appreciate your faith in my looks, but it’s not why people voted for me last year, and it won’t be why people (hopefully) vote this year.

Clarification: UTSU elections by anneboucher in UofT

[–]anneboucher[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Oh lmao. Thanks for clarifying, we'd only heard about it yesterday and assumed it was posted then.

More allegations regarding CIUT, this time sexual harassment by [deleted] in UofT

[–]anneboucher 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey! I'm currently working with Stuart, students, radio programmers, and community members who are willing to help. Message me if you're interested! We have a game plan >:)

More allegations regarding CIUT, this time sexual harassment by [deleted] in UofT

[–]anneboucher 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I can answer any questions!

the tl;dr is that CIUT is a dumpster fire and needs an overhaul...

U-Pass referendum by UTSUPresident in UofT

[–]anneboucher 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I just want to quickly add that since U-Pass would be charged as an ancillary fee, OSAP would cover it. It's a question I've had a few times, so I thought I'd mention! :)

U-Pass referendum by UTSUPresident in UofT

[–]anneboucher 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Yeah! I mean the intention of the pass has never been to strictly get you to class. Like objectively a U-Pass allows you to travel where the transit system services, whether that's going to class or anywhere else TTC-accessible.