Student leaders representing over 150,000 undergraduate students from across Ontario attended OUSA’s annual Student Advocacy Conference from November 14th to 17th, 2022. Delegates met with 31 MPPs from four political parties to discuss the future of post-secondary education in Ontario and advance OUSA’s advocacy priorities. Over four days (and then some!), the student leaders discussed OUSA’s 4 priorities for the year: affordability, gender-based and sexual violence, rural and northern students, and sector sustainability.
As we navigate a markedly new global landscape in the wake of the still ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, OUSA recommends improvements to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), survivor-centric and trauma-informed policies and initiatives to prevent and respond to gender-based and sexual violence, increased transportation and health care for rural and northern students, and lowering institutional reliance on international student fees for sector funding. Overall, OUSA received a tremendous amount of support from members and sector stakeholders and appreciate everyone who took time to engage with us.