McMaster student union governing body passes motion calling for De Caire's firing

McMaster's Student Representative Assembly (SRA), which oversees the student union, passed a motion over the weekend to call for the firing of Glenn De Caire, the head of school security and parking operations.

De Caire is Hamilton's former police chief. The Ontario Human Rights Commission once criticized his support, as chief, of carding and street checks, saying an example he used was "textbook" racial profiling. De Caire has repeatedly said in public remarks, and in a letter responding to the OHRC, that police should not activate any policing activity based on race.

When De Caire joined McMaster in 2016, the SRA passed a similar movement to have him removed. A recent petition calling for his firing has almost 5,500 signatures.

The push against him also has community support with Black Lives Matter protests echoing the same concerns.

The motion at the meeting passed on the weekend also indicated at least 400 students sent emails complaining about De Caire.

The SRA also passed a motion to push for the end of the school's special constable program.

Sabreina Dahab, an SRA member, told CBC News the vote allows for the union that represents all McMaster students to take an official stance on the subjects. 

"The student union has representatives from every faculty and the fact this motion passed also shows there was support across all faculties ... this isn't just one or two people making the decision, these are representatives, elected by the student body to represent them."

But the motion includes more than just firing De Caire and removing special constables from campus.

"We also want to explore other ways of promoting security that don't involve private firms," she said.

The students will be hosting a virtual protest on Wednesday, sharing social media posts about De Caire using McMaster hashtags in an effort to put pressure on the school.