The Government Affairs portfolio represents Queen’s undergraduate students at the municipal, provincial, and federal levels. This branch of the Commission of External Affairs (CEA) works to ensure that student priorities are reflected in public policy and community decision-making.
Whether it’s pushing for affordable housing, protecting financial aid, or advocating for accessible transit, the Government Affairs team engages directly with elected officials, advocacy networks, and campus stakeholders to drive student-centered change. We aim to amplify student voices and empower students to understand—and shape—the systems that impact their lives.
Municipal Advocacy
The AMS Government Affairs team works closely with the City of Kingston to ensure student voices are represented in decisions that impact life off-campus. From housing regulations and bylaw enforcement to transit access, community relations, and harm reduction, our municipal advocacy focuses on improving the everyday experience of Queen’s students living in Kingston.
We aim to foster a more informed, respectful, and student-inclusive relationship between the City and the student population through regular consultation, policy feedback, and on-the-ground outreach.
Key areas of work include:
We maintain ongoing relationships with councillors, City staff, and key municipal leaders (such as the district associations) to ensure students are part of long-term planning conversations and not just consulted reactively.
We attend City Council when needed and advisory committees to raise student perspectives on housing, transit, community safety, and affordability. These delegations allow us to influence municipal decision-making directly.
We collaborate with City staff to improve housing conditions in the student district through proactive inspections, education, and reporting mechanisms.
The CEA and VPUA sits on this formal working group alongside representatives from the City, Queen’s administration, the SGPS, and Kingston Police. It facilitates ongoing communication and joint problem-solving around shared issues like housing density, party enforcement, and student wellbeing.
A community-building initiative that encourages students to connect with local residents, understand their civic responsibilities, and contribute positively to the neighbourhoods they live in.
Through workshops, guides, and peer-to-peer outreach, we help students understand Kingston’s bylaws—from property standards and snow removal to noise rules and parking—so they can be informed tenants and neighbours.
At the provincial level, the AMS advocates for undergraduate students through its membership in the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA)—a coalition of student associations working to improve post-secondary education across Ontario. As a voting member, the AMS helps shape provincial policy by contributing to OUSA’s advocacy priorities, submitting budget recommendations to the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, and participating in research and consultation.
Our provincial advocacy is both policy-driven and student-led. Each year, we collect feedback from Queen’s students to inform OUSA’s policy papers and recommendations, ensuring that real student needs drive the agenda.
Our advocacy takes shape through:
