Questions over budgets and changes to the My Isabel Grant followed a Truth and Reconciliation speech as AMS Assembly met for the first time this academic year.
On Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 5:25 p.m., Wallace Hall held the first assembly of the school year. Assembly is the highest legislative and decision-making body within the Society, where student government leaders across all faculties discuss policy changes, budgets, and other issues pertinent to students at Queen’s and the operations of the AMS.
Much of the meeting centered on commissioners presenting their 2026-27 goal plans and budgets, with Assembly members questioning how some projected revenues and expenses were calculated.
Truth and Reconciliation
With National Day for Truth and Reconciliation approaching on Sept. 30, Assembly attendees were encouraged to wear orange shirts, with smudging offered as members entered Wallace Hall.
Before motions were presented, guest speaker Naashkii Soler, ArtSci ’27, addressed Assembly about the importance of education from an Indigenous perspective.
Soler, a fourth-year political science and Indigenous Studies student who is Ojibwe on her father’s side, spoke about her grandmother’s experience attending residential school.
She told Assembly that education “becomes a tool for healing when it actively dismantles the barriers that were designed to hold [Indigenous people] back.”
In his executive report, President Dreyden George also encouraged Assembly members to attend the Sacred Fire Event on Sept. 30.
Social Issues Commission
Assembly discussed changes to the structure of the AMS Social Issues Commission (SIC), including moving away from its two-commissioner model. The commission previously operated with separate internal and external commissioners. Eshal Ali, HealthSci ’27, served as external commissioner, while Ravneet Kaur, ArtSci ’27, served as internal commissioner before departing her role on Sept. 3.
“This is essentially a bittersweet change of the past,” said Ali. Following approval from Assembly over the summer, Ali assumed the responsibilities previously held by the internal commissioner as the SIC undergoes restructuring.
The restructuring, proposed in motion six, will see the two commissioner portfolios consolidated rather than retaining and rehiring the vacant position. A new Equity Assistant Manager position is planned to be added to the commission that will help Ali with her role, including representing several committees such as the Equity Awards Selection Committee.
At the Sept. 22 Assembly, SIC provided further details on the restructure in their submitted memo. Ali’s expanded portfolio now includes oversight of committees previously under the internal position, including the Student Activity Fee, Clubs, Nominating, and Equity Advisory committees.
The assembly passed motion 6 unanimously.
Assembly members question miscellaneous funding
Motion nine approved the Commission of Environmental Sustainability’s (CES) goal plan and budget.
During CES Commissioner Alexander Wong-Ma’s presentation, Engineering Society (EngSoc) Vice-President (Operations) Ella Doris questioned $2,070 listed as miscellaneous revenue and $313 in miscellaneous expenses.
Wong-ma said the revenue was connected to the Earth Center as part of the Commission of Environmental Sustainability acquisition and projected sales of community garden tote bags. He said the expenses reflected operational costs associated with the community garden.
EngSoc President Stephie Leitch raised similar concerns during AMS Vice-President (University Affairs) Edward Sy’s presentation of his own personal VP position budget.
Leitch pointed out $500 collected in October and asked what that would be used for, to which Sy responded that it will be put towards mental health events later in the year.
“I think we budget very different […] so that’s why Ella and I are a bit confused by the miscellaneous part of it,” Leitch said.
Leitch asked what would happen if projected miscellaneous funding didn’t materialize and whether the AMS had determined which expenses would be cut first to account for the shortfall.
Sy said he hopes cuts won’t be necessary and additional funding could potentially be found by examining where other commissioners were bringing in more revenue.
If spending had to be reduced, Sy said the portfolio could review discretionary expenses, including travel and spending associated with his newly launched Resource Hub.
READ MORE: AMS Summer in Review: Team DAE aims to uphold transparency and accountability
My Isabel Grant Suspension
Assembly also discussed the future of the My Isabel Grant, with a motion passing its suspension from being further administered by the AMS.
The grant was created to provide eligible campus groups access to facilities at the Isabel Bader Center for Performing Arts without an associated cost.
According to Sy, the AMS was unable to administer the grant last year due to “external factors” involving the Isabel Bader Center.
“There didn’t seem to be alignment in terms of how to best ensure consistency in the provision of the grant to specific student groups and student clubs,” Sy said.
Sy said he and Commissioner of Campus Affairs Samantha Rogers contacted the Isabel Bader team about how the grant would operate moving forward.
According to Sy, the funding remains available, but the Isabel Bader Centre intends to administer its allocation directly rather than having the AMS administer the grant.
“I am motioning to suspend it in respect to the grant’s purpose-based policy,” said Sy.
Boytchuk-Hale questioned the change, saying “a lot of us didn’t even know the change previously.”
She suggested the AMS consider maintaining student representation in the grant’s administration if control is transferred away from the Society.
She added that if the AMS is “losing control” of the grant, it should seek representation on the panel responsible for allocation of the funding to ensure students still have a voice.
Sy responded by saying that they will take Boytchuk-Hale’s feedback and speak with the Isabel Bader team to see if they would be interested in her proposal.
Assembly adjourned at 7 p.m.
The next AMS Assembly is scheduled for Sept. 29 at 5 p.m. in Wallace Hall.
Tags
AMS Assembly, AMS Budget, Truth and Reconciliation
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