The TMSU is hosting By-Elections for the Executive Committee and Board of Directors for the 2025-2026 academic year.  This is an opportunity to put your name forth to lead and guide the students’ union from (approximately) January 1 to April 30, 2026. The students’ union runs a variety of events, campaigns and vital student services — learn more at yourtmsu.ca. 

Please see our FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) at the bottom of this page!

Election Candidates

Please click here for a list of all candidates running in this by-election.

Executive Committee

The TMSU Executive Committee is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the students’ union and implementing the mandate set out by the Board of Directors. The role is compensated for 25-40 hours a week. There are five Executive Members: President, VP Operations, VP Equity, VP Events and VP Student Life & VP Education.

Board of Directors

The TMSU Board of Directors is responsible for overseeing the general operations of the students’ union, setting the mandate of the organization and implementing various projects. The role receives an honorarium with an estimated 5 hours commitment a week. There are two board members per Faculty and one International Students Director.

Learn more about the TMSU and Board of Director Responsibilities: 
https://yourtmsu.ca/about/members/

Election Timeline (October-November 2025)

• Information Sessions for prospective candidates (encouraged to attend)  → sessions to be held during the week of October 27, 2025 (online, register here) – info video below – FAQ coming soon!
• Nomination Period → November 3 – November 7 (opens at 10:00 AM, closes at 5:00 PM) — We have posted an informational video here
• —–> Request your nomination form now by emailing <cro@yourtmsu.ca>
• Nominations validation period →  November 3, 10 AM until November 10, 5:00 PM (EST)
• INTERIM PERIOD  →  November 8 – November 15:
  • All-Candidates Meetings →  2 meetings, Tuesday November 11, 1-2 PM and 5-6 PM; hybrid; Thomas Lounge, SCC, 55 Gould Street (REQUIRED, you must attend one all-candidates meeting)
  • Mandatory Training → Thursday November 13, 1030 – 1130 AM and 530-630 PM; hybrid; Thomas Lounge, SCC, 55 Gould Street — (REQUIRED)
  • Approval of Materials, Slate Declaration Form Due, Ballot Name due, Candidate Consent form due, Candidate Statement due: November 15, 5:00 PM
• Campaign Period  → Monday November 17 @ 10:00 AM – Friday November 21 @ 5:00 PM
• Executive Candidates Forum → Friday November 21 @ 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM; Tecumseth Room, SCC, 55 Gould Street.
• Drop in for the positions you care about or stay for the full lineup:
• 10:00–11:00 AM — President || 11:00 AM–12:00 PM — Vice-President Education || 12 PM–1 PM — Vice-President Equity || 1:00 – 2:00 PM Vice-President Operations || 2:00 – 3:00 PM Vice-President Student Life
• Voting Period → UPDATED! Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday, November 25-26-27 (opens at 10:00 AM,  closes at 5:00 PM) 
• ——> On Site voting available each day 10 AM to 5 PM @ SCC, 55 Gould Street (Tues + Weds in Thomas Lounge, Thurs in Margaret Lawrence
• ——> VOTE ONLINE: Login to your account my.torontomu.ca , then PARTICIPATE , then ELECTIONS — any issues email <cro@yourtmsu.ca>

Elections and Procedures Code: TMSU Elections and Procedures Code – Updated Oct 29, 2025

 This is the TMSU’s Elections Webpage:  https://yourtmsu.ca/about/election/

Submitting a Complaint

If you believe that a candidate, campaign team, or individual involved in the election has violated the TMSU Elections Procedures Code, you may submit a formal complaint to the Chief Returning Officer (CRO) by email.

All complaints must be submitted within 48 hours of the alleged violation to be considered. Complaints received after this time, or without the required information, may be rejected.

To file a complaint, send an email to CRO@yourtmsu.ca with the subject line “Election Complaint: [Name of Candidate]” and include the following headings in your message:

1. Candidate Name:
   The full name of the candidate (or slate) the complaint is about.
2. Complainant Information:
   Your full name, TMU email address, and phone number.
   (Only valid TMSU members may submit complaints.)
3. Witnesses (if applicable):
   Names and contact information for any witnesses.
4. Details of the Alleged Violation:
   Describe what happened, when, and where. Include all relevant facts and attach any evidence (e.g., screenshots, posts, messages).
5. Acknowledgment:
   Add the following statement at the end of your email:“I certify that I will respond to any inquiries from the CRO or ERC within 24 hours. I also certify that the information provided is accurate to the best of my knowledge. I understand that filing false or vexatious complaints may result in penalties under the Elections Procedures Code or referral to the University for conduct review.”

IMPORTANT:

• Complaints are not confidential.
  While personal contact details will not be shared publicly, the content of the complaint, related evidence, and the CRO’s ruling may be published on the TMSU website and in the TMSU office as required by the Elections Procedures Code.
• You must be prepared to respond to follow-up questions from the CRO or Elections and Referenda Committee within 24 hours of being contacted.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ FOR BY ELECTION CANDIDATES (Click to view PDF)

How do I get a nomination form if I want to run for a position in the upcoming by-election?
Send an email to cro@yourtmsu.ca to receive a nomination package, which must be returned by Friday November 7, 2025.

What documentation is needed to register my nomination? 
You will need to provide: Name, Student Number, torontomu.ca email address and Faculty of study.
If you are running for an Executive position (President, Vice President) you need 50 full-time TMU undergrad students to submit their names, student numbers and signatures. If you are running for a Board of Director position, you will need 25 students from your faculty, or for the International Student Director, you will need 25 international students.

Are we allowed to run if we’re already involved in a TMSU affiliated student group?
Yes.

Who is considered a TMSU Member?
Full time undergraduate students currently enrolled at TMU (including those at the School of Medicine and Lincoln Alexander School of Law.

If campaigning during the nomination period is not allowed, what can you ask when looking for nominators?
You can ask people to sign your nomination form and tell them what you stand for, but you should not be engaging in any broader activities that might constitute actual campaigning, specifically soliciting votes, until the campaign period begins on November 17 at 10am.

May candidates speak with any media outlets?
Students cannot engage with any media outlets, including student run outlets, without the prior authorization of the CRO.

Based on the posted campaign period and voting period, is campaigning prohibited Nov 22 and 23 (weekend leading up to voting days)?
Yes – Campaigning it NOT allowed the weekend of Nov 22-23

Will voting be online or in person?
Both.

Are the former Executive Directors involved in overseeing the election or is there someone else in charge?
A new experienced Chief Returning Officer (CRO) was hired to oversee the election following a rigorous selection process which included background checks by an independent investigator. What changes are TMSU implementing to ensure a fair election?

When will the next election be since this one is being held in the fall?
This will be a shortened term run until April 2026. Nominations for the 2026/2027 election will open in the Winter term (around Feb/March 2026)

Is anyone banned from running?
TMSU’s By-laws set out the rules about candidate eligibility. The By laws state that board members with financial discrepancies are ineligible for election. One former TMSU board member and three former executives were recently found to have financial discrepancies in their work for TMSU  based on findings from an ongoing external investigation into last year’s finances. The information has been provided to the CRO who is responsible for scrutinizing nomination forms to ensure all proposed candidates meet the criteria to run in the Fall By-Election.

What should people do if they feel candidates or other students are acting improperly during the election?
Contact the CRO at cro@yourtmsu.ca. It is the responsibility of candidates to read and understand the rules of the TMSU’s by-election as laid out in the Elections Procedure code , and ensure all Campaign Team Members are complying. Failure to follow the rules of the EPC can result in demerit points and, in serious cases or for repeated misconduct, disqualification.

Rulings & Decisions

Ruling #FBE2025-01

Summary:
A complaint was received regarding a candidate’s message shared in a group chat during the nomination period, which included references to a slate and promotional language.

Finding:
While candidates are permitted to share nomination links for the administrative purpose of collecting signatures under Section 6 (Nominations) of the Elections Procedures Code, any message that promotes a candidacy or references a slate before the official campaign period constitutes campaigning prior to the campaign period, prohibited under Section 8.1.1 (Pre-Campaigning)

Outcome:
The candidate was found to have committed a minor violation and was issued a formal educational warning. No further penalties were applied.

Ruling #FBE2025-02

Summary:

A complaint was received alleging that a candidate offered monetary incentives for votes during the nomination period. The Chief Returning Officer verified the authenticity of the conversation and conducted a formal review under the TMSU Elections Procedures Code. 

Finding:

The conduct was found to violate s.8.1.10 (community standards), 8.1.15 (malicious or intentional breach), and 8.1.17 (attempt to undermine the electoral process).

Outcome:

The candidate was assigned 35 demerit points, representing the maximum penalty prior to automatic disqualification. The candidate remains eligible to continue in the election. 

Ruling #FBE2025-03

Summary:

A complaint was received regarding an Instagram account associated with a candidate, alleging the use of a slate name in the display field constituted pre-campaigning. 

Finding:

After reviewing the account and activity history, the CRO found no campaign content, no dissemination of information, and no interaction with voters. The only change to the account was an administrative update to the display name. This did not meet the threshold for pre-campaigning under s.8.1.1 of the EPC. 

Outcome:

No violation was found and the complaint was dismissed.

Ruling #FBE2025-04

Summary:

A complaint was received regarding two Instagram story posts that referenced the MNP Interim Report. The complaint alleged that the posts violated digital posting procedures and constituted misrepresentation of facts and defamation. 

Finding:

The CRO determined that the first story did not visibly include the required election hashtag, which constituted a technical breach of the digital posting rules. This issue was corrected promptly. The remaining allegations were not substantiated. The statements in the posts were assessed as political commentary on a publicly available report and did not identify or target any candidate or non-arm’s-length party. 

Outcome:

A warning was issued regarding the digital posting procedure. No demerit points were assigned, and all other allegations were dismissed. 

Ruling #FBE2025-05

Summary:

A complaint was received regarding a candidate who continued performing duties in a TMSU staff position during the Campaign Period. This raised concerns of potential Conflict of Interest under the EPC. 

Finding:

The CRO confirmed that the candidate remained active in their staff role after the start of the Campaign Period, based on information directly provided by TMSU administration. Under EPC s.8.1.1, candidates who are TMSU staff must act in their employment capacity during the Campaign or Voting Periods and must take an unpaid leave of absence. This requirement was also reviewed during the All Candidates Meeting.

Outcome:

A violation was found. 15 demerit points were issued. The candidate was instructed to cease all TMSU work for the remainder of the election period.

Ruling #FBE2025-06

Summary

As part of the ballot preparation, the University revalidated all candidates against the current registration list. One Executive Candidate was found not to be a registered student, which is required for TMSU Membership and candidate eligibility.

Finding:

The CRO confirmed that the candidate did not meet Membership requirements under By-law 2 and EPC s.5.3.1. Under EPC s.8.3.8.1, ineligibility results in automatic disqualification.

 Outcome:

The candidate was disqualified, and their name was removed from the ballot.

Ruling #FBE2025-07

Summary

As part of the ballot preparation, the University revalidated all candidates against the current registration list. One Executive Candidate was found not to be a registered student, which is required for TMSU Membership and candidate eligibility.

Finding:

The CRO confirmed that the candidate did not meet Membership requirements under By-law 2 and EPC s.5.3.1. Under EPC s.8.3.8.1, ineligibility results in automatic disqualification. 

Outcome:

The candidate was disqualified, and their name was removed from the ballot. 

Ruling #FBE2025-08

Summary:

A CRO-initiated complaint was reviewed regarding prohibited campaigning by a candidate during the Voting Period. 

Finding:

The CRO found that the candidate distributed promotional campaign material during the Voting Period, contrary to EPC s.8.1.10 and s.8.1.17.

Outcome:

A violation was found. Eight (8) demerit points were issued. The candidate was instructed to cease all campaigning for the remainder of the Voting Period

Ruling #FBE2025-09

Summary:

A CRO-initiated review found that two Instagram campaign videos were posted without prior CRO approval and without the required CRO approval tag. 

Finding:

The CRO determined that the materials were posted in violation of EPC s.8.1.4, s.8.1.38, and s.8.1.16, which govern the posting and approval of digital campaign materials. 

Outcome:

5 demerit points were issued. The content was promptly removed following CRO direction. 

Ruling #FBE-2025-010

Summary:

A complaint was submitted alleging that a candidate referenced a “Napping Initiative” during the Executive Candidates Forum that has appeared in another slate’s campaign materials. The statement was made during the Respondent’s five-minute platform presentation. 

Finding:

The CRO determined that verbal statements made during a live, moderated forum do not constitute Physical or Digital Campaign Materials under the EPC and are not subject to pre-approval requirements. There was no evidence of misrepresentation, sabotage, or improper use of another slate’s campaign materials. 

Outcome:

The complaint was dismissed. No demerit points were issued. 

Ruling #FBE2025-011

Summary:

A complaint was submitted alleging that a candidate engaged in pre-campaigning, cross-campaigning, improper volunteer recruitment, and coordinated multi-candidate planning prior to the Campaign Period.

Finding:

The CRO reviewed the verified screenshots and full screen-recordings and determined that the evidence did not demonstrate any prohibited conduct under the EPC. The messages showed general discussion about future campaign plans and individuals considering running, but did not amount to solicitation, campaigning, coordination, or any violation within the regulation election policy definitions or the election timeline.  

Outcome: 

The complaint was dismissed. No demerit points were issued. 

Ruling #FBE2025-012

Summary: A complaint regarding posters displayed in TRSM without the required TRSS building stamp was reviewed.

 
Finding: The CRO found a technical violation under EPC s.8.1.7.

Outcome: A formal warning was issued. No demerit points assigned. 

Ruling #FBE2025-013

Summary: A complaint was reviewed alleging that a Team Forward poster was removed and replaced with the respondent’s poster.

Finding: No violation was found under EPC 8.1.23, 8.1.27.3, or 8.3.6, as the evidence did not establish responsibility for the removal. 

Outcome: Complaint dismissed. No demerit points issued. 

Ruling #FBE2025-014

Summary:
A complaint was reviewed regarding candidate conduct in a public Discord server.

Finding:
The CRO found violations under EPC s.8.1.10 and s.8.1.13.

Outcome:
11 demerit points issued.

Ruling #FBE2025-015

Summary:
A complaint was reviewed regarding improper campaigning in a private group chat during the Voting Period.

Finding:
The CRO found violations of EPC ss.8.1.1, 8.1.3, and 8.1.32.6.

Outcome:
28 demerit points were issued, resulting in the candidate’s disqualification from the election.

This is the TMSU’s Elections Webpage:  https://yourtmsu.ca/about/election/

Appeals

Appeal #2025FBE-A01

Link to PDF of Appeal

Appeal #2025FBE-A02

Link to PDF of Appeal

Appeal #2025FBE-A03

Summary:

The Candidate appealed ruling #FBE2025-006, arguing that he was actively contesting the University’s determination he was not a registered student. He stated there was a likelihood the University’s decision would be overturned.

Appeal decision:

CRO’s ineligibility ruling was upheld.

TMSU’s By-laws are clear that, in order to be eligible for the Board and Executive positions, individuals must be current Members of TMSU. TMSU Members are defined, in part, as individuals who are currently enrolled as students at Toronto Metropolitan University. These requirements are not limited to the nomination period; the By-laws also state that any Board member who ceases to become a Member is no longer eligible for the Board.

TMU has informed TMSU that the Candidate is not currently enrolled at TMU, and as per the By-laws he is therefore ineligible to stand for election. There is no By-law provision that would allow for flexibility or exceptions to this requirement.

This is the TMSU’s Elections Webpage:  https://yourtmsu.ca/about/election/