AMS VP External Erin Co and student representatives from UBC and across the province gathered in Victoria for this year’s provincial lobby week to address key issues regarding university student welfare last month.
The annual provincial lobby week is a time where student unions have the chance to directly connect with BC government representatives to pose student concerns. This year’s lobby week also marked the first in-person one since the beginning of the pandemic.
This year, Co was joined by UBC AMS and GSS representatives to address both province-wide and UBC-specific issues for lobby week between October 17 and 20.
“On the Monday and Tuesday, we went with [the] Alliance of BC Students, which is a provincial coalition of other student unions across BC, as well as the Simon Fraser Student Society … we were able to have meetings with [BC MLAs] for five big acts,” Co said.
The main province-wide concerns included student financial aid, graduate student welfare, accessibility and wellbeing for students with disabilities, international student support and addressing issues surrounding sexual violence.
During the final days of the week, Co said the AMS and GSS held their own discussions regarding important issues brought forward by UBC students.
Priorities included expanding the BC Student Loan Forgiveness Program, introducing racial representation within the Here2Talk counseling service and supporting the BC Student Housing Loan Program amidst skyrocketing inflation across the Lower Mainland.
According to Co, meetings were held in conjunction with MLA representatives from all BC parties. During each meeting, a delegation of student representatives gave a brief presentation on why key topics were being brought up. This was followed by a question period and discussion between student representatives and MLAs.
“We also take this opportunity to make sure that there are action items, making sure these meeting are not just going to end there, but that there is real progress,” Co said. “It’s a great way to have [MLAs] commit to things on paper to show their support for certain things.”
Student representatives collected government contacts to ensure that negotiations will continue after lobby week, Co said.
Co said there were no significant disagreement among parties.
“We were so privileged and lucky to have people from all [provincial] parties agree that investing in post-secondary students is the best way forward for BC [and that] they agreed on multiple fronts,” said Co.
Co hopes that the fact that the talks were in-person and that there was direct discussion between students with lived experiences left an impactful impression during a time of very unsteady worldwide circumstances.
Co hopes that if talks regarding the three main UBC-specific issues were successful, this could lead to a safer campus, and access to more non-repayable grants.
“My hope is that, with advocacy, students can continue being students without having to worry about anything else whether it be finance or accessibility … I think there is very real tangible change coming to students,” Co said.
Co noted that the work doesn’t stop here.
“I want to invite any students who have any issues to feel free to contact me. I would love to bring up any issues you may have with the government. Advocacy does not stop here, it is really only the beginning of it. I’m quite excited.”
Following mid-October’s provincial lobby week is the federal lobby week set to take place at the end of November.