Referendum revival

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Well, try again at least once.

That’s precisely what the McMaster Students Union has decided to do following last year’s failed Health Plan referendum, as it returns for a second student vote alongside the presidential elections this January.

After all three options to expand the MSU Health Plan were summarily turned down by the 2013-14 voting student body, a review of the process led the 2013-14 Student Representative Assembly to determine that the Health Plan referendum items didn’t receive the proper marketing and clarity to allow for a fully informed student vote.

“Last year, the messaging of what exactly was entailed at each option wasn’t necessarily outlined as well as it could have been, and so what we wanted to do was have a discussion on ways to present the referendum to students so that they have the clearest way possible of knowing what they get and how much they’d have to pay for it,” said Daniel D’Angela, MSU Finance Commissioner.

The three options under the referendum, each independent of each other, opted for increases in the cost of the MSU Health Plan in exchange for extended vision coverage, subsidized coverage of prescription contraception, and subsidized paramedical and auxiliary healthcare services.

The referendum returns this year with two major modifications. First, the options for extended vision coverage and paramedical and auxiliary healthcare services have been amalgamated into one single option; and second, the total combined cost to each MSU member would amount to $50.50, down from the combined total of $77 the referendum items would have cost students had they all passed last year.

In an email, MSU VP (Finance) Scott Mallon explained, “the vision care on its own was quite expensive, but to have it included with the other paramedical services was almost no additional cost. For this reason we decided to combine the two.”

The Health Plan will be the largest referendum item on the ballot this year, so the intention is for there to be a greater focus and awareness about the details of the plan. D’Angela noted that the Health Plan last year was somewhat overshadowed by the Bus Pass referendum, in which students voted in favour of expanding summer bus passes for all students as well as increasing HSR bus frequency along McMaster routes.

“To be completely frank, I think everyone [involved] just assumed they were all going to get passed,” said D’Angela of last year’s referenda.

“Maybe that was just presumptuous of us to think, ‘oh, this is what students want.’ But I think if we [bring the referendum back], and we do clearly see we’re doing a better job with messaging, and it does get voted down again, then I think that’s a more clear picture that this is actually not what students want—they don’t want to pay for this.”

The three referendum items last year were voted no at 58 percent.

Both Mallon and D’Angela emphasized minimizing confusion over “comparable coverage” for those concerned about the ability to opt-out of the new additions. According to Mallon, any coverage will be considered comparable coverage.

Echoing those sentiments, D’Angela said, “you’re allowed to opt-out if you have comparable coverage [...] if you have any insurance, you can still opt-out.”

Clarity and simplicity are the key goals this year, and outreach for the referendum this time will involve a number of avenues to reach the student body, including posters, videos, and groups on campus explaining the options available to students.