During the fall semester, the ULSU made significant strides in advocating for student needs and
securing positive changes for our campus community. Here’s an overview of some key
accomplishments:
1. Student Loan Delays: We addressed the delays in student loans by working closely with
the university to provide emergency relief funds for impacted students. This ensured
timely financial support during a critical period for many students.
2. Food Security: Through external grants, government funding, and donations from
community members, we allocated more resources to tackle student food insecurity,
ensuring that more students had access to essential resources provided by the foodbank.
3. UPass Advocacy: We successfully halted a proposal put forward by the City of
Lethbridge that would have seen an increase in the UPass fee while continuing to
advocate for better transportation options for students on both the Lethbridge and Calgary
campuses.
4. Enhancing Student Life: We hosted numerous events aimed at improving student life,
fostering a vibrant campus community, and providing opportunities for connection and
growth.
5. Federal Advocacy through CASA: As part of the Canadian Alliance of Student
Associations (CASA), we met with over 95 Ministers, Members of Parliament, Senators,
and political leaders, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, to address critical issues
affecting students. Key federal advocacy points included:
- Invest $250 million annually in the Student-Work Placement Program through the 2027-28 program year to strengthen work-integrated learning opportunities for students in small and medium enterprises.
- Increase the size of Canada’s skilled trades workforce by mandating that contractors for federal infrastructure construction and maintenance contracts ensure 20% or more of hours worked on federal projects are worked by apprentices.
- Furthermore, establish a 20% apprenticeship hours requirement for recipients of grants and contributions for federal housing programs such as the Affordable Housing Fund, Apartment Construction Loan Program, and Federal Lands Initiative.
- Incorporate adjustments for CPI to the Tri-Council Agency graduate student funding programs to maintain competitiveness for quality Canadian talent.
- Double the Express Entry Program immigration points in Part D of the Comprehensive Ranking System allocating 60 points for a three or more year Canadian post-secondary credential, or 30 points for a one or two year Canadian post-secondary credential to retain those most likely to economically succeed in Canada.
- Permanently renew the $4,200 grant per year/$300 loan per week maximums for student financial aid, and proportionately increase the separate limits for students with disabilities and students with dependants to ensure that academic ability, not financial ability, is the standard for admission.
- Increase Post-Secondary Student Support Program and equivalent Métis and Inuit programs to $1.14 billion annually to ensure every qualified Indigenous student can attend post-secondary education.
The work is not done and we still have more advocating coming for this upcoming year! We
remain committed to advocating for the needs of all Uleth students. If you have suggestions or
concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out, we are here to ensure your voice is heard!
Advocacy News