Student associations at universities and colleges in Ontario could become formally autonomous if a private member’s bill proposed in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario April 19 is passed.
Bill 184, also known as the College and University Student Associations Act, 2011 (CUSA Act), was tabled by Liberal MPP Yasir Naqvi and co-sponsored by New Democratic Party MPP Rosario Marchese.
If passed, the CUSA Act would recognize the autonomy of student unions, ensure good governance and accountability, and promote collaboration and agreement between student associations and post-secondary institutions. The bill would also ensure the collection and remittance of fees by post-secondary institutions levied by student associations.
These changes would give student unions legal protection to avoid conflicts and “clarify the relationship between students’ unions and institutional administration,” said Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario chairperson Sandy Hudson in a news release.
The Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) and Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) have already declared their support for the bill, according to a note posted on Naqvi’s Facebook page.