Indigenous students in Canada continue to face structural barriers to accessing post-secondary education, despite education being a recognized treaty right. Programs that do exist to combat this inequality, such as the Post-Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP), are set to expire in 2027. Shyanna Denton, the Chair of the Canadian Alliance of Student Association’s National Indigenous Advocacy Committee (NIAC), has initiated …
Talent Innovation Canada Announcement
On May 14th, the Government of Canada announced a $29 million investment into Talent Innovation Canada to support graduate student research, future work opportunities, and Canada’s innovation ecosystem. Minister of Industry Mélanie Joly noted that the initiative will “support high-growth companies by placing top students in high-impact R&D roles, strengthening Canada’s innovation workforce and supporting long-term economic growth.” Top students …
UCGSA Federal Budget Submission
CALGARY——Last month, the University of Calgary Graduate Students’ Association (UCGSA) and our colleagues at the University of Calgary Students’ Association (UCSU) submitted our budgetary recommendations to the House Standing Committee on Finance. This submission is part of the pre-budget consultations undertaken by the federal government. Our recommendations focused on increasing the amount of federal funding graduate students receive while further connecting you, our …
UCGSA Releases Two Major Advocacy Surveys
CALGARY——The University of Calgary Graduate Students’ Association (UCGSA) has released two advocacy surveys that will inform their advocacy priorities for years to come. The first, titled Clear Savings, analyzes the results of UCGSA’s “Program Cost Survey.” Under the direction of former President Irtaza Sohail, UCGSA asked graduate students whether they accurately understood the costs associated with a UCalgary graduate program. The second is a 114 question Comprehensive Advocacy Survey, crafted under the direction of VP External …
UCGSA Advocacy Update: Open Letter on Spousal Open Work Permit Delays
On January 21, the University of Calgary Graduate Students’ Association (UCGSA) sent an open letter from President Irtaza Sohail to the Honourable Lena Diab, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. In the letter, we outlined the significant emotional and financial strain our members are experiencing due to prolonged delays in the processing of Spousal Open Work Permits (SOWP). These delays …
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 …
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 …
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 …
