---

Last month, two MRU students walked the halls of Parliament Hill, sat across from Members of Parliament, and made sure your concerns were heard at the highest levels of government.

SAMRU REC President, Tala Abu Hayyaneh, and SAMRU REC Vice President External Mariana Mejia Salazar, travelled to Ottawa for the Canadian Alliance of Student Association’s (CASA)’s Advocacy Week (Nov. 17–21), joining student leaders from across the country to push for change on the issues that matter most to you: housing affordability, student grants, and access to work-integrated learning.

Why this matters

This kind of advocacy has a track record. Over the past decade, CASA’s work has contributed to real policy wins—including the elimination of interest on federal student loans, a 40% increase to Canada Student Grants (now $4,200/year), and federal investment in student housing. These aren’t abstract victories. They show up in your financial aid package.

Advocacy Week is how that work gets done: face-to-face meetings where student leaders present research, share stories, and push politicians to act.

Who they met

Abu Hayyaneh and Salazar met with MPs, ministers, senators, and government staff throughout the week, including:

• MP David MacKenzie (Calgary Signal Hill) — MRU’s own MP, who asked detailed questions about the impact of affordable student housing investment
• Ginette Lavack, Parliamentary Secretary for Indigenous Services Canada, who acknowledged frustration around the Canada Student Grant not keeping pace with inflation
• MP Jacob Mantle (York-Durham) discussed affordable housing funding and stakeholder consultation for apprenticeship programs
• Carina Gabriel, Staff for Women and Gender Equality (WAGE), confirmed ongoing engagement and relationship-building with student organizations
• Minister Patty Hajdu (Jobs and Families), Senator Colin Deacon, MP Leslie Church, MP Greg McLean, and others

A moment of reflection

For Abu Hayyaneh, this was her final Advocacy Week after two years representing students at the federal level.

“I am left with an immense amount of gratitude for the students I’ve worked with, advocating for half a million students across Canada,” she said. “It’s an incredible honour to have been part of this journey.”

Your turn?

REC applications are now open for the upcoming spring election. If you want a seat at tables where decisions get made—and a chance to carry this work forward. You can find more information on the application process and how to apply here!