OPEN LETTER: Concerns about Bill 33 and the Potential Loss of Essential Campus Services

September 22, 2025

To:

Premier Doug Ford

Hon. Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security

Hon. Paul Calandra, Minister of Education

Members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario

Subject: Concerns about Bill 33 and the Potential Loss of Essential Campus Services

We, the undersigned student unions, associations, faculty members, and community allies, write to express our concerns about Ontario Bill 33, legislation that could impact students, families, communities, critical campus services, and the student organizations that run them. The current version of Bill 33, Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025, if passed as is, would allow the government to regulate student fees, undermining students’ ability to support themselves through their post-secondary experience and their communities. This proposed legislative change and any associated future regulations could lead to student association fees being deemed “non-essential”, despite the fact that student associations provide essential supports that contribute to the student experience on campuses and in the greater community, such as:

• Food banks and emergency housing assistance

• Mental health and peer support services

• Campus clubs and cultural organizations

• Representation for marginalized and underrepresented students through advocacy

• Legal aid, equity centres, and transit programs

• Campus media and access to information and news

These supports are critical: student demand for food banks is increasing in the triple digits, one-third of students are not having their mental health needs met, and campus clubs provide invaluable leadership and employment opportunities. These services are run by students, for students - and they are funded through the very fees Bill 33 could disrupt. To enforce provincial fee regulation would risk the financial viability of vital supports that enable student success in-study and post-graduation. If the government hopes to have skilled graduates tackling today’s provincial challenges, their post-secondary experience must provide them with the means to succeed through adequate resources for their wellbeing.

As we finish the first month of a new semester, young people pursuing post-secondary deserve a system that holistically supports their needs and fosters engagement with their student government. Fee governance is already rooted in accountability, transparency, student leadership, and predictability for all. This promotes equitable access, strengthens financial accountability, and ultimately enhances the overall student experience. We understand that these processes can be strengthened, and we hope to come to the table with the provincial government on finding a mutually agreeable solution.

To conclude, the Coalition respectfully makes the following requests:

1. Meeting with Minister Nolan Quinn: We request a meeting with Minister Nolan Quinn to discuss the implications of Bill 33 for students, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of their concerns and needs.

2. Referral to Committee: We urge the House Leaders of all parties to support the referral of Bill 33 to the Standing Committee on Social Policy. This will facilitate a thorough review and allow for meaningful stakeholder input.

3. Review of Section 21.1: Following the committee's examination, we call on the Ontario Government to give careful consideration to the removal of Section 21.1 of Bill 33, which currently empowers the Lieutenant Governor in Council to regulate student fees.

Moving forward, as proposals are made to improve the post-secondary sector in Ontario,  we encourage the Ontario Government to proactively engage directly with student representatives and student advocacy organizations throughout the regulation-making process. Whether it be ancillary fees, merit-based applications, or funding reviews, student perspectives are integral to decision-making and we welcome opportunities to consult with the Ministry beforehand. 

Thank you for your attention and consideration. 

Respectfully,

Abdul Abbasi, Canadian Alliance of Student Associations

Bella Fischer, College Student Alliance

Rajveer Singh, Ontario Student Voices

Sayak Sneddon-Ghosal, Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance

Supporting Partners:

Alma Mater Society of Queen’s University

Brock University Students’ Union

Canadian Association of Business Students 

Carleton University Students' Association

Centennial College Student Association Inc.

CJAM 99.1 FM / Student Media, University of Windsor

Conestoga Students’ Inc.

Fanshawe Student Union

Fleming SAC

Frost Student Association

Ignite Student Life

Loyalist Student Government

McMaster Students Union

Mohawk Students' Association

National Campus and Community Radio Association / l’Association nationale des radios étudiantes et communautaires

Niagara College Student Administrative Council

Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations

Ontario Student Trustees’ Association / l’Association des élèves conseillers et conseillères de

l’Ontario

Ontario Tech Student Union

Sault College Student Union 

Seneca Student Federation

Sheridan Student Union

St. Lawrence College - Brockville SAC

Students’ General Association of Laurentian University

Student Union of Confederation College Inc.

Trent Durham Student Association

University of Ottawa Students’ Union / Syndicat étudiant de l’Université d’Ottawa 

Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association

Western University Students’ Council

Wilfrid Laurier University Students’ Union

OPEN LETTER - Concerns about Bill 33 and the Potential Loss of Essential Campus Services

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