PRESS RELEASE
February 28, 2025
OUSA Congratulates the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario on Re-Election
TORONTO, ON – The Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA) would like to congratulate both the Progressive Conservative Party on winning yesterday’s election as well as other Members from the Liberal, NDP, and Green Parties who secured a seat in the Legislature. On behalf of students across the province, we look forward to working with all the elected and re-elected Members of Provincial Parliament to address the many challenges currently facing post-secondary students in Ontario.
Before and during the election, several post-secondary institutions announced devastating cuts to programs and classes. The financial crisis of the sector has reached its tipping point, where students are now actively experiencing the impacts of several years of chronic underfunding in the province. With many programs suspended, there are significant limitations on student choice and accessibility to higher education. This will have implications on producing job-ready graduates and educated members of the workforce to effectively contribute to their local communities and economies.
“Congratulations to the PC Party and everyone who secured a win in this election. We are eager to collaborate in creating meaningful change and have a positive impact on the future of post-secondary,” said Michelle Wodchis-Johnson, OUSA President and Vice-President of the University Students’ Council at Western University. “We are hopeful for the provincial government’s swift, collective action towards addressing concerns around affordability and accessibility of post-secondary education with all Ontario students in mind."
As the Government of Ontario enters a new mandate, OUSA is urging a serious focus on the post-secondary sector in order to address the alarming situation that it is in. Without high quality and diversity of programs and services at Ontario’s universities, the province will fail to have the next cohort of leaders tackling today’s challenges, which are ultimately many of the focal issues from this campaign season such as trade policies, housing, and healthcare.
As a core part of our mission, OUSA will continue to lobby the Ministry of Colleges and Universities as well as work with all of our other relevant stakeholders in order to ensure that the needs of students are put at the forefront of this crisis. It is our hope that the province takes significant steps to increase their operating grants to institutions, so that students can access, stay, and enjoy the post-secondary program of their choice.
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OUSA represents the interests of 160,000 professional and undergraduate, full-time and part-time university students at nine student associations across Ontario. Our vision is for an accessible, affordable, accountable, and high quality post-secondary education in Ontario.
Tiffany Li Wu
Manager of Operations & Communications
Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance