Students and organizations left reeling after Bill 33 passes and receives royal assent.
Despite pressure from students, school boards, and unions alike, Bill 33 has passed at Queen’s Park.
Known as the Supporting Children and Students Act, the bill – which gives the provincial government more control over school boards and other areas of the education system – saw a majority vote of 74 to 40, push it through Nov. 19.
It received royal assent the next day, Nov. 20.
“I was annoyed, upset, but not entirely surprised. I think a part of a lot of people who are organizing against bill 33 understood that this was not a bill made in good faith. It was a bill designed to target institutions and structures that the government were unhappy with or felt were incompetent, allegedly, but we understood that there was a high likelihood that it would have been passed,” said Toby Lew, director of education & equity at the Student Association of George Brown College (SAGBC). “I think everyone was a little disappointed that it was passed, but like I said, not surprised when I found out. I just kind of let out a sigh of annoyance and then the day had to keep moving.”
Concerns over the omnibus bill are widespread as it covers not only the post-secondary system but public school system – Kindergarten to Grade 12 – as well.
Lew pointed out that the public school system has seen issues in recent years with the mismanagement of funds by trustees, among others at school boards.
Because of these issues stemming from some of the 72 school boards in Ontario, the Provincial Conservative (PC) government has already taken control of five school boards and appointed a supervisor.
Critics fear Education Minister Paul Calandra may use his new powers under Bill 33 to put more school boards under provincial supervision.
Calandra, however, says that this is only meant to be done when school boards “fall off the rails.”
Another issue of concern to some is to implement a school resource officer program. This would see local police officers spend time in schools in the name of improved safety.
While this is not a new program, many school boards chose to do away with these types of services years ago after concerns were raised by minority groups and those who were unhappy with the presence of officers.
Turning to post-secondary, there are fears that the PC government could control the fees which students are required to pay. Some believe this could mean that fees which are paid to student unions such as the SAGBC, would be optional and therefore, disrupt services offered.
In a media release after Bill 33 passed, the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) condemned the passage, while noting that students will continue to fight back as “there is a clear opposition from students.”
“After fast-tracking Bill 33 through the legislature and bypassing the committee process, the Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security now has the unmitigated authority to interfere with admissions, research, and democratically determined student fees; this authority directly contradicts the academic integrity and independence of Ontario’s world class post-secondary education sector. If the ministry had consulted students prior to Bill 33 passing, they would have known that students vehemently oppose all aspects of Bill 33.”
It should be noted that at a CFS organized rally held Oct. 20 at Queen’s Park, only a handful of students showed up to voice concerns against the bill.
Other things affecting post-secondary education in Bill 33 includes: assessing applicants for programs based on merit and to publish the criteria for assessment; a requirement for institutions to develop research security plans.
“Post-secondary institutions are also actually being affected by Bill 33 when they say that they want to control how they are admitting students. Admissions policies can be determined by the ministry, and that is something that we should be concerned about, because the way that most institutions are admitting students today are beyond grades… but when the Ford government says that they are demanding for a more merit-based admissions, we are concerned because who defines merit? Institutions define merit, that is a concern as well. However, the way that they’re defining it are also under the scrutiny of students and faculties,” said Lew.
While there is clearly a vocal outcry against the now passed Bill 33, Lew also pointed out that there are people in the community who are in favour of what it entails. He says that because of some of the issues seen within the education system, people in support see this as a correction on a broken system.
“There are a few who are in favor of it. I have experienced speaking to students who showed favoritism towards Bill 33 because they saw it as a way to ‘oh we want transparency. We want to pay less; schools do need policing because they are dangerous due to the homelessness crisis that we’re experiencing in Toronto.’ And those are little things people are pulling out of this bill to say this part is good, therefore we want it to pass,” Lew added.
As schools get set to go on holiday break, Lew knows that this is not the best time to engage with students who are facing a slew of exams, assignments and other items which significantly affect their grades.
The time of the year, however, does not mean that he is taking a break as he says he is working on plans which he hopes to launch when students are more receptive.
“I mean, the semester is coming to a close, it is going to be hard to talk to students about social issues when they are too concerned about their academics. Personally, I am working on planning for actions to be done, or more material understandings as to what Bill 33 [and] how it could impact students. And, of course, with Bill 60 passing as well, I’m going to try and integrate both into this conversation about, what has the government done and how can it affect your livelihood as a student and as a resident of Ontario.”
