The disqualification of three candidates from the University of Ottawa Students Union (UOSU) has been provisionally overturned by the Elections Appeal Board (EAB). Chief Electoral Officer Ben Cameron plans to appeal this decision, arguing for the candidates to be taken off the ballot once again.
In their appeals, the three candidates — Carly Huber, Evan Macaulay, and Norah Bello — argued that their examination completed through the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute (OLBI) did not accurately reflect their competencies.
Per documents obtained by the Fulcrum, the EAB found that technical errors meant the tests “cannot reasonably be interpreted to have been taken,” ruling that the “UOSU Elections Office has not received” the testing results.
As such, the candidates have until the end of voting period — March 6 at 6 p.m. — to return the results of a completed OLBI test. If the candidates are unable to provide a passing result, the original disqualification will be upheld and their votes “ineligible” according to the EAB.
The ruling declared on the eve of the General Election is “not grounded in reality and UOSU policies, but invents jurisdiction the EAB does not have,” said Cameron. Further, he posits “[that the difficulties] did not affect the OLBI evaluation” itself, claiming the arguments made by the three candidates were “grounded in speculation.”
Cameron’s planned appeal will be heard by the Appeals Committee no earlier than Thurs. March 5 — this decision will be final.
Candidates have contacted OLBI to schedule the new test, however the policy signed during the original testing done Feb. 10 by the three candidates declared they would be required to wait three months before re-taking the test. Because the EAB found the Elections Office “did not receive” the test results from OLBI, it’s debatable whether this rule applies.
OLBI could not be reached for commentary.
Currently, the 2026 UOSU General Elections will include three contested races for the positions of President, Operations Commissioner, and Student Life Commissioner.
Following Bello’s reinstatement, she will be uncontested in running for Advocacy Commissioner as her disqualified opponent, Jasmine Jin, failed to file an appeal within the 24 hour deadline outlined in the Electoral Code.
Huber told the Fulcrum that “I’m grateful it worked out in my favour, but I also really empathize with the other candidates.”
The ballot for Executive of Francophone Affairs will be blank, following the denial of the fourth candidate disqualified on Feb. 26, Benjamin Dennie.
Dennie, a “proud Franco-Ontarian in an English-speaking environment,” per his campaign page, was tested on his English fluency.
As per Schedule A of UOSU’s constitution, which sets out bilingualism standards, candidates can exempt themselves from French and/or English testing by submitting “a certificate of English-French bilingualism or results from French or English-language testing that was conducted within the past two (2) years, or a high school or CÉGEP diploma.”
In documents received and translated by the Fulcrum, Dennie’s appeal did not contest the validity and administration of the test, but his obligation to take the test. A decision which the EAB “could not rule on” saying disputes regarding the obligation to take the OLBI test should have been appealed and challenged at the end of the nomination period: Feb 8.
Dennie is able to appeal this decision to the UOSU Ombudsperson.
The Fulcrum was unable to reach Dennie.
The Fulcrum will be co-hosting a debate for all contested positions at 7 p.m. on March 2, held in Simard Hall (SMD) 125. Additionally it will be streamed on the Fulcrum’s Instagram — crowd questions will be accepted.
