Governing Documents

The UOSU is governed by the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act, the UOSU Constitution, and the UOSU’s policies and positions. For any ideas or questions about these documents, please contact the UOSU President (president@seuo-uosu.com) or the Chair of the Board (bod-chair@seuouosu.com)

Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act

The University of Ottawa Students’ Union is registered as a not-for-profit corporation with the
federal government. This means that it must respect the rules outlined in the Canada Not-forProfit Corporations Act (CNCA).
The CNCA outlines general rules for not-for-profit corporations, such as the roles and
responsibilities of officers and directors, auditing requirements, records-keeping requirements,
and the rights of members.
Here is the latest version of the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (CNCA).

UOSU Constitution

The Constitution is the by-law of the University of Ottawa Students’ Union. It is the supreme document that governs the UOSU and must always be followed.
The Constitution describes the UOSU’s mandate as “advocating on behalf of and providing services to undergraduate students at the University of Ottawa.”
It outlines the rights of members and the functions of the General Assembly, Board of Directors, Executive Committee, Appeals Committee, Ombudsperson, Staff, and the UOSU’s obligations to Recognized Student Governments.
It also outlines the rules governing Elections, Impeachments, Finances, and Clubs.
Changes to the Constitution must be approved by the Fall General Assembly. Most changes can also be made temporarily by the Board of Directors. Some changes require a higher threshold of member involvement, or even a referendum.

UOSU General Policies

The UOSU’s General Policies, approved by the Board of Directors, are policies that impact the whole organization, and all events, services, campaigns, and initiatives affiliated with it.
These policies must be reviewed every 1 or 3 years, as indicated at the bottom of the policy document.
Changes can be made to policies by the Board, on the recommendation of one of the Board’s Committees, as indicated at the top of policy document.
If you have an idea for a new policy or a change to an existing policy, please contact the Chair of the UOSU’s Board (bod-chair@seuo-uosu.com) or your representative on the Board of Directors

UOSU Internal Policies

The UOSU’s Internal Policies, approved by the Executive Committee, relate to the management of human resources and the working conditions of UOSU employees.
To inquire about access to the UOSU’s Internal Policies, please contact the UOSU President (president@seuo-uosu.com).

Email UOSU President

UOSU Positions

The UOSU’s Positions lay out the position of the UOSU on a given social and/or political issue. These Positions guide the organization and the Executive Committee in its advocacy and campaign efforts.
Positions are adopted by the General Assembly, but can also temporarily be approved by the Board of Directors.
Positions must be reviewed every three years.