Canadian Alliance of Student Associations
Encyclopedia
The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) was formed in 1995 by several post-secondary institutions' student unions who had withdrawn from the Canadian Federation of Students
(CFS) and previously unaffiliated student unions. Today CASA boasts of a membership of 25 student associations representing over 300,000 students.
in 1990. In what would become an annual meeting, student leaders from across the country were invited to come together to discuss challenges facing post-secondary education students in Canada
.
In 1993 the federal government
announced that all of Canada's social programs would be reviewed with sweeping and significant changes likely to come which prompted several student unions not affiliated with the CFS to try to organize efforts to lobby the federal government on education issues.
In 1994, as the result of a conference held at Carleton University
, a number of student leaders decided to form a new Canadian post-secondary student organization. The foundations for the new organization were laid down, and the framework for a constitution was built upon it.
In 1998 Patrick Fitzpatrick, then acting Director of CASA, plead guilty to fraud charges after it was discovered that he embezzled money from the organization.
In 2003 Liam Arbuckle, then National Director, resigned after admitting that he provided confidential information to a candidate hoping to succeed him.
In 2008, CASA accepted its first member organization to consist entirely of graduate students: the University of Waterloo
Graduate Student Association. In November of 2011, the Anthabasca University Graduate Student Association became the second member organization to consist of entirely graduate students.
voted to leave the CASA. The CASA sued the SSMU after disaffiliation, and reached a settlement on fees in 2009.
In 2006, the University of Saskatchewan Students' Union
voted to end its membership in the CASA.
In 2009, the CASA's largest member, the Alma Mater Society of the University of British Columbia (AMS), voted for the second straight year to disaffiliate. The AMS cited high fees and the irrelevance of the CASA as primary reasons for disaffiliation. They currently sit as an associate member.
Canadian Federation of Students
The Canadian Federation of Students is the largest student organization in Canada. Founded in 1981, the stated goal of the CFS is to work at the federal level for high quality, accessible post-secondary education.-Structure:...
(CFS) and previously unaffiliated student unions. Today CASA boasts of a membership of 25 student associations representing over 300,000 students.
History
CASA's origins can be traced to the first Winds of Change conference hosted by the University of AlbertaUniversity of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
in 1990. In what would become an annual meeting, student leaders from across the country were invited to come together to discuss challenges facing post-secondary education students in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
In 1993 the federal government
Politics of Canada
The politics of Canada function within a framework of parliamentary democracy and a federal system of parliamentary government with strong democratic traditions. Canada is a constitutional monarchy, in which the Monarch is head of state...
announced that all of Canada's social programs would be reviewed with sweeping and significant changes likely to come which prompted several student unions not affiliated with the CFS to try to organize efforts to lobby the federal government on education issues.
In 1994, as the result of a conference held at Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
, a number of student leaders decided to form a new Canadian post-secondary student organization. The foundations for the new organization were laid down, and the framework for a constitution was built upon it.
In 1998 Patrick Fitzpatrick, then acting Director of CASA, plead guilty to fraud charges after it was discovered that he embezzled money from the organization.
In 2003 Liam Arbuckle, then National Director, resigned after admitting that he provided confidential information to a candidate hoping to succeed him.
In 2008, CASA accepted its first member organization to consist entirely of graduate students: the University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
Graduate Student Association. In November of 2011, the Anthabasca University Graduate Student Association became the second member organization to consist of entirely graduate students.
Recent membership dissatisfaction
In 2005, the Students' Society of McGill UniversityStudents' Society of McGill University
The Students' Society of McGill University is the accredited representative of the undergraduate student body at the downtown campus of McGill University.-Membership:...
voted to leave the CASA. The CASA sued the SSMU after disaffiliation, and reached a settlement on fees in 2009.
In 2006, the University of Saskatchewan Students' Union
University of Saskatchewan Students' Union
The University of Saskatchewan Students' Union is a students' union that represents undergraduate, extension and certificate students at the University of Saskatchewan...
voted to end its membership in the CASA.
In 2009, the CASA's largest member, the Alma Mater Society of the University of British Columbia (AMS), voted for the second straight year to disaffiliate. The AMS cited high fees and the irrelevance of the CASA as primary reasons for disaffiliation. They currently sit as an associate member.
Founding principles
The Association set down a number of founding principles:- First, CASA would be member-driven in that the members of the Association would set the organization's policy agenda and define its goals.
- Second, CASA would focus on issues specific to post-secondary education, establishing a strong orientation toward policy development.
- Third, CASA would ensure that membership within the alliance would not unfairly burden member associations. Joining CASA would be made easy through clear and flexible by-laws. Membership fees would be capped and kept to the lowest possible level.
- Lastly, CASA would focus its attention on those challenges facing post- secondary education students within federal jurisdiction only. Provincial advocacy would be best left to member associations. In effect, CASA established principles and practices that would promote a strong, grassroots, pragmatic alliance focusing exclusively on the problems facing post- secondary education students in Canada.
External links
- Canadian Alliance of Student Associations
- Alliance vs Federation The Manitoban student newspaper examines the pros and cons of CASA and the CFS.
- Mi CASA ain't su CASA 2002 article from The VarsityThe Varsity (newspaper)The Varsity is one of the main student newspapers of the University of Toronto. In publication since 1880, it is the second-oldest student newspaper in Canada....
on CASA's troubles.