more than 60 people, including several jewish public service network members, signed an online petition asking for the meeting , arguing that cape had surpassed the donation amount approved by members in its budget. the petition indicated that members wanted clarity on the donation process and accessing contingency funds.
so far this year, cape has spent $3,000 in donations to striking psac workers , $500 to the student-led group insaf, which describes itself as an advocacy group for “the complete freedom of the homeland, palestine,” and $1,000 to the grassy narrows river run.
earlier this summer, however, the union’s national executive committee also voted to provide funding for a member-led initiative called cape 4 palestine, which includes “self-organized cape members in solidarity with palestinians in their struggle for liberation.” according to the petition, that amount was $5,000 and was taken from the union’s executive contingency budget.
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about 200 people attended the meeting, where discussions took place around whether donations would continue to be made and whether they could be made to groups that didn’t have canada revenue agency charitable status.
the petition’s signatories are calling for further reform of cape’s donation policy , which was updated on aug. 2. they’re also considering filing a human rights complaint amid concerns about their representation by the union.
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the email encouraged members to fill out a form noting their intention to attend the meeting and answer whether they’d be comfortable speaking in support of the group, register for the meeting, and “get five trusted cape members” to attend.
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