Dear TMSU Members,
Thank you to everyone who made it to TMSU’s Semi Annual General Meeting on Dec 2!
We are so encouraged by member engagement and were pleased to reach quorum, allowing the student Union to pass several important by-law amendments, accept prior financial audits, appoint the auditor for the next fiscal period, and ratify previous meeting minutes. Members were also able to receive important updates on the ongoing independent investigation. TMSU remains committed to transparency and proactive communication with our members, so for those of you who were unable to attend, we would like to share the following:
Investigation Findings
MNP has continued their investigation into TMSU’s finances, following findings earlier this year that the 2024/25 election was manipulated and corrupted. MNP’s lead investigator presented preliminary findings that signalled concerning financial irregularities from the in 2024/2025 academic year, including:
- Significant concerns regarding the integrity of various vendors (ie. one vendor does not appear to exist; Another vendor paid well over $1 million had a website consisting entirely of stock photos, videos, and AI-generated images, including of vendor staff. This vendor refused, on multiple occasions, to meet with investigators);
- Significant overpayments to vendors without Board approval;
- Payments to vendors that were made prior to receiving invoices;
- At least one multi term contract signed without appropriate Board approvals, and multiple contracts entered without the required signing authorities;
- Duplicate and over payments for TMSU events;
- Conflicts of interest with respect to the approval of payments to one student group;
- There were consistent and pervasive policy violations with respect to the application, approval, authorization, and reconciliation of vendor payments.
MNP’s investigation is ongoing, and TMSU expects that a public-facing report on their financial findings will be available in the new year.
As previously reported, several former TMSU Executives and Board members were suspended amid the ongoing investigation, and some staff were also terminated. As a result of findings of financial irregularities, several former Executives and Board Members were also ineligible to run in the 2025 by-election.
By-Law Amendments
In light of the ongoing investigation, TMSU’s Board of Directors proposed a number of by-law changes to strengthen TMSU’s governance moving forward. We are pleased to let you know that the Members voted in a robust package of By-law amendments. These included changes that:
- Prevent the President or any Vice-President from chairing Board or Members’ meetings;
- Tighten conflict-of-interest provisions, and prohibit former Executives and Board Members from soliciting business with TMSU for their personal financial gain;
- Increase Board oversight of Executive decisions to discipline or fire Management Staff;
- Ensure Executive Members work with management staff as appropriate and secure Board authorization when negotiating significant contracts;
- Remove voting Board positions that used to be filled by members who were not elected during the normal TMSU election period;
- Increase the Union’s record-keeping and transparency requirements;
- Clarify and improve the By-laws governing Members Meetings.
We are working to incorporate all the motions passed by members. The fully updated By-laws will be available on TMSU’s website next week.
TMSU has also implemented and amended a number of policies over the past few months, including:
- Introducing new student group policies – these will come into effect in January, and will increase clarity, structure and fairness to student group applications, funding, conduct expectations, and complaints/sanctions processes;
- Amending the Union’s financial policies to create tighter controls over procurement (ie. vendor selection);
- Enhancing the New Board honorarium policy to elaborate a fairer and more transparent process.
All of these policy changes are reflected in TMSU’s updated Policy Manual, available here.
By-Election Updates
MNP’s interim report from August 2025 raised concerns about active and continued attempts to interfere with the planned 2025 fall by-election. After a member vote to postpone the by-election failed to pass at the Special General Meeting in September, TMSU’s remaining Board of Directors worked quickly to hire an experienced Chief Returning Officer to oversee the fall -by- election.
Voting for the By-election took place between November 25 and November 27, 2025.
Over the course of the By-election, the CRO received more than 80 complaints alleging breaches of the Elections Procedure Code, which, if deemed legitimate, could impact the final results of the election.
TMSU takes these complaints seriously, particularly given MNP’s previous findings of election corruption and manipulation.
The CRO is working diligently to adjudicate the outstanding complaints and determine if any demerit points are warranted. Given the volume of outstanding complaints the Board’s Election and Referenda Committee (ERC) has approved a delay in the release of the unofficial vote count.
New Interim Operating Agreement with TMU
Our operations and services are funded by dues from you, our student Members. These fees are collected by the University on TMSU’s behalf, and then passed on to the Union in accordance with the Operating Agreement between the Union and the University.
Last month TMSU signed a new Interim Operating Agreement (IOA) with the University. The IOA builds on the underlying agreement – which remains in force – with the aim of providing financial and operational stability as TMSU continues to rebuild and strengthen the organization for long-term success.
We are coordinating the timing of further announcements with other involved partners, and we expect to be able to share more details with Members in the New Year.
Have Your Say! Multi-Faith Space in Oakham House
The multi-faith room in Oakham House will be temporarily closed starting Monday December 15 for repairs and a reset. Throughout this time, building management will be doing some much-needed repairs and cleaning in the room, replacing existing furniture, adding additional storage for items used for different religious/well-being practices, and more. The space will reopen on Monday, January 12, 2026.
While the multi-faith space is temporarily closed, here is a list of other multi-faith rooms on campus: https://www.torontomu.ca/wellbeing-central/category/socialconnection/faithrooms. SCC is actively working with the TMU Administration to offer additional spaces on campus during this closure.
ONLINE SURVEY: Your feedback will help identify areas for improvement and implement changes that cater to your needs. Please take a few moments to share your thoughts on how SCC can enhance the current multi-faith space in Oakham House. Your input matters greatly. Thank you for being an essential part of our student community!
PROVIDE YOUR THOUGHTS HERE: https://forms.gle/skwAdaWtZ9zz4axE7
For any questions, please email communications@tmusc.ca.
Power Shutdown: TONIGHT at SCC, Midnight to 7AM
Facilities Management and Development (“Facilities”) will be conducting preventative maintenance on power systems of several buildings this Friday. This planned maintenance is essential for ensuring safe, reliable service and to protect the security and integrity of our infrastructure.
For the safety of workers and building occupants, this work requires building-wide power shutdowns. The planned shutdowns are scheduled to take place overnight from 11:59 p.m. Friday, December 5 to 7 a.m. Saturday, December 6 in the following buildings:
- School of Graphic Communications Management – Heidelberg Centre (HEI)
- Student Campus Centre (SCC)
- Oakham House (OAK), including The Met Campus Pub
- 112 Bond Street (PRO) and 114 Bond Street (BND)
Occupants should consider powering down sensitive equipment by the end of operational hours Friday.
Holiday Office Closure: December 22, 2025 to January 2, 2026
TMSU offices will close at 5 PM on Friday December 19 and reopen on Monday January 5, 2026 at 10 AM.
Please note: SASSL will continue to be monitored (Telephone/text: (437) 600-7575).