An Ontario bill widely criticized for weakening campus services and student autonomy has become law, prompting strong pushback from student groups and education advocates. The Legislative Assembly of Ontario passed Bill 33, formally known as the Supporting Children and Students Act, in a 74-40 vote on Wednesday.
Schedule 2 of the Education Act requires school boards to work with local police services by providing officers “access to school premises, permit them to participate in school programs and implement school resource officer programs.” Since it was first introduced in May, the legislation has faced pushback from student groups and education advocates concerned about its implications.
Advocacy groups participated in an Ontario-wide Week of Action for Education late last month, including a rally held at Queen’s Park, in an attempt to fight Bill 33. Critics warn the bill could disproportionately affect marginalized students, alter admissions processes and give the government greater control over student fees, potentially weakening campus services and student autonomy.
“[Bill 33] is an attack on the entirety of the education sector and undermines our mandate to fight for free and accessible education,” said Cyrielle Ngeleka, chairperson for the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) Ontario.
Section 16.0.2 of the bill requires that colleges of applied arts and technology and publicly assisted universities assess applicants based on merit and publish the criteria and process used for admission into programs. The Lieutenant Governor in Council is given regulatory authority over how merit is defined and applied, allowing for potential changes to existing holistic or equity-based admissions practices.
The legislation harms students and workers alike says Omar Mousa, the national executive representative of CFS Ontario.
“This bill is attacking education on all levels, and is not just attacking students, but it’s also attacking workers,” Mousa said. “Education is a human right and the government continues to treat it like a business.”
The bill also allows the provincial government to regulate student fees, prompting concerns that essential services like food banks, mental-health supports and student programs could be undermined.
Ontario Student Voices (OSV), a provincial advocacy organization, argues that these services fill critical gaps in support that institutions and governments do not cover. OSV says that restricting student fee autonomy risks deepening food insecurity and mental-health pressures on campuses.
The legislation weakens students’ ability to support one another, says Rajveer Singh, chair of OSV. “It’s basically framed by the government as increasing transparency,” Singh said. “But it’s an attack on students and their ability to support themselves, it is going to divide them and weaken the systems already in place.”
Bill 33 aims to improve trust in the post-secondary system, Bianca Giacoboni, press secretary to Colleges and Universities Minister Nolan Quinn, wrote in a statement to On The Record regarding concerns about transparency and increased government oversight.
“We will be consulting with the sector, including students, to understand these fees better, what current admissions policies look like, and how research security practices can be enhanced to ensure any changes would not disrupt the delivery of a world-class education,” Giacoboni wrote in a statement, adding that the province is not proposing that students be allowed to opt out of all fees and that education pathways for students of “all backgrounds and abilities” will remain.
“This is a very significant move, and we don’t know yet the full impact,” said TMU president Mohamed Lachemi. “What I can tell you is that we are carefully reviewing Bill 33 and its potential implications for our students, faculty and staff. Once the bill comes into effect, we will work with the ministry and our sector peers to understand what, if any, changes need to be made to our policies. I can assure you that our priority is ensuring that students have access to the services, supports and opportunities they need to thrive, and that the university can continue making decisions in the best interest of our community.”
Steve Orsini, president and CEO of the Council of Ontario Universities, said in a statement last June that the bill’s “proposed regulatory powers” could “increase administrative burdens” and “fail to address the root causes of student access challenges.”
With royal assent granted, the provincial government can now begin drafting regulations for the bill. Student groups say they expect to continue lobbying in the coming months as the regulatory details are developed.
Reporter, OTR, F2025
Otter.ai was used in transcribing the interviews for this story.
