Download the Statement (PDF) The Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) and its internal sub-committee, the Gender and Sexuality Alliance of the GSA (GSA2), condemn the Alberta Government’s decision to pre-emptively invoke the notwithstanding clause through Bill 9 to protect anti-trans legislation Bills 26, 27, and 29 from legal challenges. We call upon the Alberta Government to repeal Bill 9 and Bills …
Federal Update Makes Graduate Education More Accessible for International Students
The University of Calgary Graduate Students’ Association is happy to see that international graduate students at designated public institutions will no longer be required to submit a provincial attestation letter (PAL), starting January 1st, 2026. “I’m encouraged by IRCC’s decision to exempt international graduate students from PAL requirements,” Irtaza Sohail, UCGSA President, said. “It sends a clear message that Canada …
Where UCalgary Graduate Voices Met Ottawa Decision Makers
Each year, the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) brings student representatives from across the country to Ottawa to meet with federal decision makers. The goal is to ensure that student needs and priorities are clearly communicated at the national level. This year, the GSA participated in a full and productive Advocacy Week alongside partners from Union étudiante du Québec …
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
Advocacy Update Dear fellow graduate students, We’re now halfway through the Fall semester and six months into our term as your elected representatives. Our focus has been clear: to advocate for graduate students and improve the graduate student experience. Your input through conversations, surveys, and ideas continues to drive real progress on and off campus. You’ve asked to see how …
Graduate Students’ Association Condemns the Use of the Notwithstanding Clause in Bill 2
On October 27, 2025, the Government of Alberta passed Bill 2 – the Back-to-School Act, setting a deeply concerning precedent for labour rights and democratic governance in the province. In addition to circumventing the conventional legislative process, this bill invokes the notwithstanding clause, thereby allowing the government to override protections guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Most …
UCGSA’s Joint Provincial Budget Submission: Strengthening Support for Graduate Students
UCGSA joined forces with the University of Calgary Students’ Union and the Students’ Association of Bow Valley College to submit our joint provincial budget submission to the Government of Alberta. This submission is part of the provincial budget cycle, when individuals and organizations can propose spending priorities and regulatory changes before January. After this period, the Treasury Board and Ministry …
GSA Recognizes Several Positive Recommendations in the Mintz Report
Upon initial review, the Graduate Students’ Association at the University of Calgary (GSA) would like to commend several of the recommendations provided in the Expert Panel on Post-Secondary Institution Funding and Alberta’s Competitiveness (also known as the Mintz Report). Over the past few years, the GSA has expressed numerous concerns about the state of post-secondary education for international students, the …
Advocating for Graduate Students: UCGSA’s Joint Provincial Budget Submission
Last week, UCGSA and our partners at the University of Calgary Students’ Union and the Students’ Association of Bow Valley College released our joint provincial budget submission. During the provincial budgetary cycle, individuals and organizations can submit spending and regulatory requests to the government up until approximately January, after which the Treasury Board and Ministry of Finance set the spending …
Student Voices in the Municipal Election
The University of Calgary Students’ Union (SU) and Graduate Students’ Association (GSA) are working together to make sure student voices are heard in the upcoming municipal election. We want to ensure both your ballot and your concerns shape this election. Get Out the Vote – October 9th Ward 7 Councillor Debate Come early to scan a QR code and submit …
Two Surveys Published to Support GSA Advocacy Efforts
The GSA has launched two new surveys to help guide how the executive can best support the graduate student community. Last April, over 1,000 graduate students submitted responses to our annual survey. These results helped us identify the key priorities the GSA should advance and highlighted the concerns graduate students are facing. By completing these surveys, you’ll be entered to …
