Day one of LobbyCon is under the belt, and so far we have received only positive feedback in response to our pragmatic recommendations to help students. Acknowledging the current economic situation and asking for simple adjustments to help the students with the highest need is gaining momentum within Queen’s Park. After the day began with question period focused mostly on the harmonized sales tax, we hope that by Wednesday morning there will be some questions on PSE. Day two should be just as much fun as day one, and probably with a little less drama in the house. The adventure continues tomorrow…
-Adam Zabrodski
This morning, OUSA hosted a Press Conference at Queen’s Park. We presented our Knowledge Economy report, that calls on the Provincial government to invest in Universities in order to stimulate the economy of today, as well as tomorrow. We had a great turnout with our partners: the Council of Ontario Universities, Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations, Association of Ontario Food Banks, and the Institute of Competitiveness and Prosperity, who took turns making a supporting statement as well as taking questions from the press gallery.
As this was my first Press Conference as Communications Director of OUSA, I’m very happy with our coverage and our turnout. You can read the Toronto Star article about our report HERE. I also have to say that Dan, OUSA’s President, did an amazing job with the Press Conference, both in his statement and during the Q&A.
A special thanks to Joe the Media Studio guy who took a great video that I will be trying to post sometime this week, as well as to Dave from Wilson’s office, who helped me get everything organized.
Stay tuned for more updates throughout OUSA’s Lobby Conference!
-Alvin Tedjo
During the week of Nov 30 – Dec 2, OUSA held its annual Lobby Conference at Queen’s Park, with 17 delegates from all 7 OUSA member schools. We scheduled 60+ meetings with MPPs (over 80% of cabinet), as well as meetings with bureaucrats and other sector stakeholders.
Delegates Blogged every day, multiple times a day. CLICK HERE to read the LobbyCon Blogs.
Delegates also Tweeted every day, multiple times a day. CLICK HERE to read the tweets from delegates.
To read the Knowledge Economy report and Press Release of the report, CLICK HERE.
OUSA will also update any news or announcements made by OUSA, or Partners:
Read OCUFA’s Press Release about OUSA’s Knowledge Economy Report, CLICK HERE.
Read the Toronto Star article on our Press Conference, CLICK HERE.
Read Academica’s coverage of the Knowledge Economy report, CLICK HERE.
Read Rabble.ca’s blog of the Knowledge Economy report, CLICK HERE.
Today OUSA begins its annual Lobby Conference in Toronto. I would be lying if I didn’t say that this is the most exciting and fulfilling part of my job as Vice President University Affairs at the Brock University Students Union. For any lobbyist, not just student politicians, the chance at meeting 17 MPPs including 7 cabinet ministers over 3 days just sends chills down your spine…in a good way.
This week combines months of advance planning, countless calls to offices, dozens of edits to lobby briefs, and some intense juggling of the schedules of all of our student leaders involved. As four teams of students criss-cross the government buildings of Toronto all week long, our message is heard and reinforced in multiple ways.
As I sit in the media room of Queen’s Park waiting for our kickoff press conference, I wonder what twists, turns, bumps, cancellations, government and opposition responses, issues and other curveballs are forthcoming this week. You truly have to think on your feet in this job, and it’s a ton of fun for us political junkies.
-Rob Lanteigne
CLICK TO VIEW
TORONTO, Nov. 30 /CNW/ – The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) released a new report today to mark the launch of its annual lobby conference at Queen’s Park. The report, entitled Ontario’s Knowledge Economy: The Economic Impact of Post-Secondary Education, emphasizes the need for increased investment in universities to ensure Ontario’s long-term prosperity.
“Money given to universities is an immediate and powerful economic stimulus,” said Dan Moulton, OUSA President. “We know that 70% of future jobs will require a post-secondary education, and in order to compete in the knowledge economy of the future, the Ontario government must continue investing in high-quality and accessible universities.”
Investment in higher education provides an individual return on investment of up to 28%. University graduates make up just 22% of the population yet they contribute 41% of income taxes. Moulton added, “five years ago the Province made a large investment in higher education with its reaching higher plan. We think that the Province needs to build on the successes of this investment instead of cashing out the future of Ontario’s students when they are most in need.”
The report highlights current gaps in Ontario’s higher education system such as rising student-faculty ratios, lower quality, and lower per-student funding than other provinces in Canada.
A number of partner organizations have joined with students to support the report’s recommendations. These include the Council of Ontario Universities, Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations, Ontario Chamber of Commerce, the Institute for Competitiveness and Prosperity, and the Ontario Association of Food Banks.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE REPORT
OUSA Press Conference 1 of 3
OUSA Press Conference 2 of 3
OUSA Press Conference 3 of 3
TORONTO, Nov. 30 /OUSA/ – Student leaders from across Ontario began their annual lobbying event at Queen’s Park today. OUSA’s annual Lobby Conference takes place from November 30 to December 2 this year in Toronto. During this conference, student leaders will be meeting with Members of Provincial Parliament and other key decision makers to explore solutions to the challenges facing Ontario’s post-secondary education system.
“Its a great opportunity to meet with Members of Provincial Parliament and have them hear our most pressing issues regarding post-secondary education,” said Dan Moulton – OUSA President. “We discuss the problems we see in the system, tell them our concerns, then provide recommendations that the Province can act on to improve or solve the issue. Its our Educated Solutions approach that has worked for us very well in the past,” added Moulton. OUSA’s recent success at Lobby Conferences the past few years include the Textbook and Technology Grant, the Ontario Distance Grant, an addtional $150 million investment in university infrastructure, $5 million to help underrepresented groups access higher education, and the two-year tuition freeze.
OUSA’s main priorities this year surround the submission Ontario: A Province of Knowledge document presented to the government this Fall. Our three priorities are Student Financial Aid, Student Success (Quality), and Tuition. Delegates will be updating our progress during the Lobby Conference on Twitter, Facebook, and the Website.
Click to View Ongoing Coverage
After being down 18 points at the half, the Queen’s Gaels came back to defeat the Calgary Dinos 33-31 on Saturday and take the 45th Vanier Cup. The game was hosted at Laval, whose number-one-ranked Rouge et Or were defeated by the Gaels one week earlier.
OUSA sends heartfelt congratulations to the Gaels athletes on their incredible season. Because of a wager made last week, similar congratulations from the Council of Alberta University Students (CAUS) are forthcoming. OUSA and CAUS agreed that the losing school’s provincial representative would write a poem extolling the virtues of the other Province’s university athletes. We will post the CAUS poem here on our blog once it is received.
Cha Gheill!
-Alexi White
The Council of Alberta University Students (CAUS), representing the University of Calgary has accepted OUSA’s wager!
Watch TSN tomorrow (Saturday, November 28th) at noon for the game… then check out our site and CAUS‘ site for the loser’s very creatively written poem that will tell a tall tale of all the virtues that OUSA holds (all of them superior to CAUS’ of course).
Game On Gaels!
-Alexi White & Alvin Tedjo
(Proud Queen’s Alum)
OUSA is releasing a report entitled Ontario’s Knowledge Economy: The Economic Impact of Post-Secondary Education, that underscores how investment in Universities can stimulate the economy and help Ontario climb out of the current recession. The following organizations are joining with students to support the report: the Council of Ontario Universities, Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations, Ontario Chamber of Commerce, the Institute for Competitiveness and Prosperity, and the Ontario Association of Food Banks.
The document will be released at a media conference at Queen’s Park with the supporting organizations in attendance.
Date: Monday, November 30, 2009
Time: 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Place: Queen’s Park – Media Studio
The press conference is being held in conjunction with OUSA’s annual Lobby Conference, taking place from November 30 to December 2, 2009 in Toronto. During this conference, student leaders will be meeting with Members of Provincial Parliament and other key decision makers to explore solutions to the challenges facing Ontario’s post-secondary education system.
OUSA represents the interests of over 140,000 professional and undergraduate, full- and part-time university students at seven Ontario institutions.
TORONTO, Nov. 27 /CNW/ – The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) is releasing a report entitled Ontario’s Knowledge Economy: The Economic Impact of Post-Secondary Education, that underscores how investment in Universities can stimulate the economy and help Ontario climb out of the current recession. The following organizations are joining with students to support the report: the Council of Ontario Universities, Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations, Ontario Chamber of Commerce, the Institute for Competitiveness and Prosperity, and the Ontario Association of Food Banks.
The document will be released at a media conference at Queen’s Park with the supporting organizations in attendance.
Date: Monday, November 30, 2009
Time: 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Place: Queen’s Park – Media Studio
The press conference is being held in conjunction with OUSA’s annual Lobby Conference, taking place from November 30 to December 2, 2009 in Toronto. During this conference, student leaders will be meeting with Members of Provincial Parliament and other key decision makers to explore solutions to the challenges facing Ontario’s post-secondary education system.
