November was an exciting month for OUSA, beginning with our Fall General Assembly in St. Catharines hosted by the Brock University Students' Union. After months of research and analysis, the hard work of our Steering Committee and Home Office Staff culminated in a weekend of debate and discussion with student representation from all of our member schools. At the end of the three days, we emerged with three approved policies including a revised plan on student financial assistance, an updated accessibility and early outreach strategy, and a whole set of recommendations on international students studying in Ontario.  OUSA's General Assemblies' always seek to provide the necessary forum for student engagement and dialogue; and I am exceedingly proud of the leadership that our students have shown in setting the direction for OUSA's advocacy on these priorities.

Only a few weeks later, we held our annual Student Advocacy Conference in Toronto at Queen's Park. For three days, our student leaders had over 70 meetings with Members of Provincial Parliament, cabinet ministers, political staff and members of the public service, with the purpose of spreading OUSA's message on the importance of investing in post-secondary education (PSE) in Ontario. This conference provides the distinct opportunity for student representatives to meet with the provincial decision makers and present the concerns and challenges currently facing Ontario students. Our student delegates spent their time discussing the reallocation of Educational Tax Credit funding into other forms of needs-based financial assistance including the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). Students also stressed the necessity of additional enrolment space funding to accommodate the growth that Ontario's system will experience over the next five years. Further, students presented strategies to improve teaching quality within our classrooms and recommendations on how the provincial government can offer a more holistic and comprehensive access strategy for groups currently underrepresented in our universities and colleges.

This week has ultimately proved to be successful in broadening the awareness and importance of investment in higher education. I want to thank all of those who met with OUSA over the past week for your time and continued support - the students of Ontario rely on your voices and decisions to enhance the accessibility, affordability, accountability and quality of PSE in the province.

Finally, I want to thank all of the student delegates from our seven member schools for your dedication at these conferences over the past month. Your efforts to advance the issues and advocacy for students across Ontario have made a difference.