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
