Canadian Federation Of Students-Ontario

What Canadian Federation Of Students-Ontario does

Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario (CFS-Ontario; Fédération canadienne des étudiantes et étudiants–Ontario) is a bilingual, non-profit student advocacy federation headquartered at 225 Richmond Street West in Toronto. Founded in 1981 as the Ontario component of the national Canadian Federation of Students, it represents more than 350,000 college, undergraduate, and graduate students across Ontario through 35+ member local students' unions. The organization is governed democratically through four-times-yearly general meetings and dedicated caucuses for graduate, part-time, Indigenous, racialized, women's, northern, and francophone constituents, with major decisions made collectively by member locals.

CFS-Ontario's core operations center on policy lobbying at Queen's Park and Parliament Hill, member-driven campaign mobilization, and sector research on post-secondary education. Recurring campaigns cover tuition fees, OSAP, part-time student access, international student fairness, Indigenous student support, gender-based violence on campuses, food security, public transit, and post-residency fees. The Federation also operates a portfolio of cost-saving member services: collective purchasing of handbooks and dayplanners, exclusive issuance of the International Student Identity Card (ISIC) in Canada, the Studentsaver discount program, the National Student Health Network insurance consortium with Green Shield Canada, and free tax filing negotiated with UFile.ca.

The business model is a non-profit federation funded through pooled membership dues from member students' unions, governed without external investors. It is supported by a lean staff of 15 employees and a leadership structure headed by an elected Chairperson, with additional officers for government relations, treasury, and constituency representation. The organization sustains itself through recurring per-member dues, service partnerships (ISIC licensing, Green Shield, UFile.ca), and coalition support from major Canadian labour unions including OPSEU, CUPE, Ontario Federation of Labour, and Unifor.

Name

Canadian Federation Of Students-Ontario

Legal name

Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario

Website

https://cfsontario.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario is a non-profit federation representing over 350,000 college and university students across Ontario through 35+ member students' unions. It conducts policy lobbying, campaign mobilization, and member services including ISIC, health insurance, and tax filing.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Student Union Federation and Advocacy Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDALAHAB

Student Organizations & Club Administration

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/Student Activities, Clubs & Campus Life

SECONDARYEDADAHAL

International Student Funding & Mobility Grants Administration

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Funding, Grants & Financial Aid Administration

Keywords

• Student advocacy
• Policy lobbying
• Student union services
• Post-secondary education
• Member federation

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Member Students' Union Dues: Students' unions pool resources through membership dues to fund the Federation. Each member local contributes to support collective advocacy, services, and campaigns. Decisions about funds are made democratically at provincial and national general meetings held four times annually.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario is a provincial student federation that represents over 350,000 students through 35+ member local students' unions, providing collective advocacy, policy lobbying, and member-driven campaigns on post-secondary education issues. The Federation also delivers cost-saving services to students including the International Student Identity Card (ISIC), Studentsaver discount program, National Student Health Network insurance consortium, collective purchasing for handbooks and dayplanners, and free tax filing via UFile.ca. Its primary purpose is to use collective bargaining power to influence government policy on tuition, student aid, and education accessibility.

Product overview

The Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario offers a portfolio of student-owned and operated services designed to reduce the cost of education. The core offerings include: the Handbook and Dayplanners Service (collective purchasing for student unions), the International Student Identity Card (ISIC - free travel discount card), the Studentsaver Card (national discount program), the National Student Health Network (health and dental insurance consortium), and free tax filing via UFile.ca. These services are provided through pooled resources and collective purchasing power to save students money.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Handbook and Dayplanners Service A collective purchasing service that enables student unions to produce high-quality handbooks, dayplanners, and agendas at reduced costs through economies of scale. Handbooks are made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper and vegetable ink.
• International Student Identity Card (ISIC) An internationally recognized student travel discount card available to full-time students free of charge as a CFS membership benefit. Valid in over 80 countries for discounts on travel, accommodations, museums, and entertainment. CFS is the only licensed authority to issue ISIC in Canada.
• Studentsaver Card Canada's only student-owned and operated national discount program offering thousands of discounts across the country on everyday purchases including books, clothing, food, and entertainment. Available to all students including part-time students, free at their students' union.
• National Student Health Network A Federation-coordinated buying consortium for health and dental insurance. Uses collective purchasing power to secure lower rates and better coverage. Plans include dental discount network (20-30% co-pay reduction), vision discounts, and coverage through Green Shield Canada.
• Free Tax Filing Service (via UFile.ca) Free online tax filing service negotiated with UFile.ca. Members receive a code to access UFile.ca for free year-round. Students can file taxes for spouses, partners, or dependents. Available in French at imp\u00f4texpert.ca.

Quantifiable outcome

• Won $6 million annual mental health funding for colleges and universities (2017)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• Ontario Public Sector Employees Union (OPSEU)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor labour union ally in campaigns against OSAP cuts and Student Choice Initiative. Supported 2019 court challenge against Ford government policy. Regular coalition partner in Week of Action events and lobbying efforts.
• Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerKey solidarity partner providing financial support for Student Choice Initiative legal challenge. United in defending public post-secondary education and student union autonomy.
• Ontario Federation of LabourmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvincial labour federation supporting student advocacy efforts and coordinated actions against government education cuts.
• UniformajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor Canadian union and financial supporter of student legal challenges including the Student Choice Initiative court case.
• Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerAcademic faculty association allied with student causes, co-sponsoring Week of Action events and opposing government attacks on post-secondary education.
• Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerFederal public sector union providing support for Student Choice Initiative legal fund and campaign activities.
• Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerOntario teachers' federation standing in solidarity with students against government education cuts and defending student union rights.
• Ontario Secondary Student Teachers' Federation (OSSTF)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSecondary school teachers' federation supporting student campaigns and educational advocacy efforts.
• United Steelworkers (USW)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor labour union providing solidarity support for student advocacy campaigns and legal challenges.
• ISIC (International Student Identity Card)coreOthersCFS-Ontario is the only licensed authority to issue ISIC cards in Canada. The international student travel discount card is provided free to full-time student members and available for purchase by non-members.
• Green Shield CanadasupportingOthersNot-for-profit insurer providing health and dental coverage through National Student Health Network, a buying consortium coordinated by CFS for participating students' unions.
• UFile.casupportingOthersOnline tax filing service negotiated by CFS to offer free access to student members. CFS negotiates access codes distributed to member unions annually.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Canadian Federation of Students (national): The national parent federation of CFS-Ontario, representing 500,000+ students across Canada. Same organizational model, same advocacy strategy, and structurally intertwined with the Ontario component.
• Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA): Direct competitor national student federation in Canada, representing undergraduate and graduate students at colleges and universities. Competes with CFS for member unions, mandate, and government influence.
• Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA): Ontario-based student advocacy alliance representing undergraduate students at member universities. Operates in the same geographic market as CFS-Ontario with overlapping policy focus on post-secondary education funding and accessibility.
• College Student Alliance (CSA): Ontario-based advocacy organization representing college students. Competes with CFS-Ontario for Ontario college student union members and operates in the same policy space.

Regional players

• Students Nova Scotia: Provincial student advocacy organization in Nova Scotia representing university and college students. Uses a similar advocacy federation model but operates in Atlantic Canada.
• Alliance of BC Students: British Columbia student advocacy coalition with member student associations from BC post-secondary institutions. Operates the same kind of advocacy model in a different province.
• Council of Alberta University Students (CAUS): Alberta-based student advocacy council representing undergraduate students at Alberta universities. Comparable federation model with policy and lobbying focus on Alberta post-secondary issues.
• Fédération étudiante universitaire du Québec (FEUQ): Quebec university student federation advocating for post-secondary education policy in Quebec. Same model of pooling student union resources for collective advocacy, but operating in a different province.
• New Brunswick Student Alliance: Provincial student advocacy organization representing New Brunswick university students. Mirrors CFS-Ontario's structure and advocacy approach at a smaller regional scale.
• Manitoba Students' Alliance: Coalition of Manitoba post-secondary student associations that advocates on provincial and federal post-secondary policy. Comparable federation model with focus on accessibility and affordability.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/cfson
• Facebookfacebook.com/cfson
• Instagraminstagram.com/cfson/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Canadian Federation Of Students-Ontario