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EnglishWhat Benefits Does Canadian Federation of Students Membership Provide?
Updated
Membership in the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) gives students access to practical cost-saving services and programs, alongside representation and campaign work. According to the federation's own materials, member benefits include health benefits, discount programs, an ethical purchasing network, a free International Student Identity Card, handbooks and day planners, and free tax filing. These benefits come through membership in a member students' union — the CFS describes itself as a federation of 63 students' unions representing more than 530,000 members, so individual students access benefits via their local union rather than by signing up directly with the national body.
The member benefits at a glance
The CFS lists the following under its member benefits:
| Benefit | What it is |
|---|---|
| Health benefits | Cost-saving health coverage for members |
| Discount programs | Access to discounted products and services |
| Ethical Purchasing Network | A network for ethical purchasing options |
| Free International Student Identity Card | An identity card provided at no cost to members |
| Handbook and day planners | Printed materials for the academic year |
| Free tax filing | A no-cost tax filing service |
The federation frames these as "essential cost-saving services," so the practical value for most students is money saved on things they would otherwise pay for — particularly health coverage, tax filing, and everyday discounts.
Who can use these benefits
The CFS states that it represents full- and part-time students, domestic and international students, and students at the college, undergraduate, and graduate levels. That breadth matters if you are trying to work out whether you qualify: the relevant question is whether your institution's students' union is a CFS member, not your study level or residency status. International students, for example, are explicitly included in the membership base, which is consistent with the free International Student Identity Card being offered as a member benefit.
Benefits beyond the cost-saving services
Membership also connects students to the federation's advocacy and campaign work, which the CFS presents as part of what members get:
- Lobbying: Federation representatives maintain regular contact with officials at all levels of government to amplify student issues.
- Campaigns: Member-driven campaigns aim to shape public opinion and pressure decision-makers. Current examples on the site include ReconciliAction (Indigenous language revitalization), Fight the Fees (tuition fee growth — the CFS notes that since 2001, tuition fee revenue at universities and colleges has tripled), and Mental Health Matters.
- Research and information: The federation analyzes trends and produces research on the post-secondary sector to inform government proposals and campaign demands.
These are collective benefits rather than individual services — you do not "claim" them the way you would a discount, but they are part of what membership supports.
How to decide whether the benefits matter to you
The benefits are most relevant if you are paying for health coverage, tax preparation, or everyday purchases out of pocket and your students' union is a CFS member. In that case, checking with your local union is the practical first step: it can confirm which benefits apply at your institution and how to access them, since the CFS delivers these through member unions.
If your main interest is advocacy on tuition, mental health, or Indigenous language policy, the campaign and lobbying work is the more relevant part of membership. If your main interest is the cost-saving services, compare the specific offerings — health benefits, tax filing, discounts — against what you currently pay, and confirm availability with your union before assuming a particular service is included at your school.