Dear City Council,
The University Students Council (USC) at Western represents the interests of 28,000 university students who call London their home. The USC has been monitoring the budget process over the last couple months and appeared before you to provide our perspective on the city budget. I am writing to express concern with the Council’s recent decision to make cuts to the Accessibility for Ontario Disabilities Act (AODA) fund.
The USC understands that Council is diligently working to balance service reductions with minimizing the tax burden for property owners and students alike in London, and we thank you for your hard work. The USC asks that when the budget comes for final approval on February 21st that council understands that students who are attending Western are also accessing all the services London has to offer. City services help to create a positive impression of London for students at Western and can influence their decision to stay or leave the city after graduation.
Specifically, the USC is opposed to the cuts to the AODA fund as there are many students living within in the city that require the retrofits to the City’s buildings. The USC believes that students, no matter their level of ability, deserve the right to have equal access to the services that make this city a great place to live. This is also a priority as internally within the University, the USC has been advocating on behalf of all students for greater accessibility to Western’s services.
The USC would like to thank City Council for all their hard work on the 2012 budget and we appreciate the consultation opportunities that Council provided the USC throughout this process. We are excited for the future of this community and we are excited to continue to work with City Council.
Sincerely,
Pat Searle
Vice-President University Affairs
University Students’ Council
usc.university.affairs@uwo.ca
519-661-3574