OSV Concerned Over Proposed Changes in Bill 33: Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025.

Welland ON –  On May 29 2025, the Government of Ontario tabled Bill 33, Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025, which proposes new requirements for merit-based admissions, mandates research security plans at post-secondary institutions, and grants the government broad authority to regulate which student fees colleges and universities may charge.

Ontario Student Voices (OSV) is encouraged to see progress on tuition fee transparency, a core issue we have consistently advocated for over the past year. Requiring institutions to publicly disclose how tuition revenue is spent is a necessary step towards increasing accountability, and ensuring greater transparency across Ontario’s postsecondary system.

However, OSV has serious concerns about the scope and potential impacts of this legislation, particularly around ancillary fee regulation and the proposed merit-based admissions framework.

While framed as enhancing oversight, the bill would grant the government sweeping regulatory powers to dictate which ancillary fees institutions can charge. Ancillary fees directly fund vital student services such as mental health care, food banks, and peer support programs. Regulating these fees at a time when demand for services is at an all-time high and institutional funding remains severely constrained is deeply troubling.

In 2019, the government's attempt to limit ancillary fees through the Student Choice Initiative was struck down by the provincial courts, which reaffirmed the autonomy of student associations. We strongly reiterate that student associations must retain the ability to govern and fund their own organizations. Undermining this autonomy would compromise the very services students rely on to succeed.

A 2022 survey of Ontario post-secondary students found that 66.5% of respondents reported a decline in mental health since beginning their studies, further underscoring the urgent need to strengthen, not restrict, student supports.

“Ancillary fees aren’t optional add-ons, they’re lifelines. From mental health counselling to food support, these fees fund the essential services that help students stay in school, stay healthy, and succeed in contributing to a better Ontario.” said Lynn Courville, OSV Executive Director.

OSV also urges caution around the bill’s requirement for merit-based admissions. While transparency is important, institutions must have the flexibility to define “merit” in a way that reflects program needs and supports access for equity-deserving groups. A rigid, centralized definition risks reinforcing existing barriers and undermining progress toward inclusive education.

Bill 33 represents a concerning shift in the provincial government’s approach to post-secondary education. Rather than addressing the chronic underfunding facing colleges and polytechnics, the bill introduces top-down regulatory changes that could sideline students and institutions from key decisions. OSV urges the government to pause and engage in meaningful consultation with students and sector stakeholders. Protecting Ontario’s future means investing in students, not narrowing their access to vital supports or removing their voices from the table. We welcome the opportunity to work with the Government of Ontario to improve transparency and accountability in post-secondary education.

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About Ontario Student Voices

Ontario Student Voices is a provincial advocacy organization representing over 160,000 college and polytechnic students across Ontario. We are committed to ensuring that student voices shape the policies and decisions that affect their lives and education.

FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES: 

Lynn Courville

Executive Director

Ontario Student Voices

lynn.courville@ontariostudentvoices.ca