The Ontario government introduced Bill 33 last week, drawing strong criticism from education advocates and unions. The proposed legislation would expand provincial control over schools and colleges, a move critics say undermines local democracy and public education.
“Bill 33 is a power grab, and a dangerous one,” said JP Hornick, President of OPSEU/SEFPO. “The government is using isolated cases of financial mismanagement to push broad changes. But the real problem is underfunding, not governance.”
If passed, Bill 33 would give the province more power to intervene in local school boards, which are currently democratically elected. It would also require School Resource Officers—police officers—in schools, despite past programs being ended due to concerns about racial profiling and harm to students.
In the post-secondary sector, the bill would allow the government to control which student fees are permitted. Critics warn this could lead to cuts in essential student services like mental health support, food banks, and job search assistance. The bill would also let the province impose new admissions rules on colleges and universities, which could limit access for marginalized groups.
“These moves show an unjustified increase in provincial authority,” Hornick added. “Instead of fixing the funding crisis it created, the Ford government is calling it reform.”
Kelly Martin, President of OPSEU/SEFPO Local 330, said the bill fails to address real problems facing schools, including rising violence. “Putting police back in schools won’t help students and staff,” she said. “We need smaller class sizes, more education workers, and better mental health and special education support.”
Critics are especially alarmed about the return of police in schools. “The Ontario Human Rights Commission and many studies have already shown that police presence harms Indigenous, Black, and racialized students,” said Hornick. “It creates unnecessary surveillance and impacts mental health and learning.”
The bill would also reshape college and university admissions by introducing stricter rules set by the province. Advocates say this change would hurt efforts to improve access for underrepresented communities and limit students’ future opportunities.
“They want to police our kids from a young age and then block their access to post-secondary education,” Hornick said. “Ontario’s future depends on an inclusive education system—not one that excludes people.”
Ontario already spends the least per student on colleges compared to other provinces. Bill 33 could worsen that crisis by increasing government control over funding and reducing student-led support systems.
“This bill takes away students’ right to choose the services they need,” Hornick said. “It’s a clear attempt to defund those supports.”
