The Canadian Association of Distance Education (CADE) is a non-profit, volunteer based organization that aims to advance and promote distance education nationally, advance research in distance education, provide services, information, theory and practice and materials to its membership based on need, and to represent Canada and distance education on an international level. CADE is a bilingual organization (Association Canadienne de l'Education a Distance ACED, French counterpart), which is sustained by a Board of Directors along with membership and planned activities and conferences.

Margaret Haughey became the President of CADE during the 1991 election and nominations. Members of the board are volunteers who have an interest and expertise in higher and distance education. Prior to becoming President, Haughey was a long time active member of CADE and an advocate of distance education. At the time of the Presidential election, Haughey was an Associate Professor and Coordinator of Distance Learning in the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta, in Edmonton, Alberta. By the time Haughey was elected, CADE was a national organization that had grown from 13 original members in 1983 to 639 members in 1992. Programs and services offered by CADE consist of The Journal of Distanced Education, Communique newsletter (which is sent to all members), professional development, research, an annual conference held in Canadian cities, government relations and external liaison.

While in her two year term as President of CADE, Haughey oversaw CADE's operational activities including conferences, finances, meetings and partnerships with other organizations and institutions including the International Council for Distance Education (ICDE) and the Center for Education Research and Innovation (CERI), among others. While Haughey was President, CADE reached its 10th anniversary, unveiled a new logo and produced conferences and workshops on distance education. Following her term as President, Haughey remained active in CADE, still attending conferences and helping her successor, Therese Lemy, during her presidency.

By 1998 Haughey was the Editor of The Journal of Distance Education, a journal produced by CADE. While Editor, Haughey applied on behalf of the journal for the Aid to Research and Transfer Journal Award, which the journal won. Haughey also worked on getting the journal published in EBSCO