Introduction to Bill 33:

 

Bill 33, also known as the “Supporting Children and Students Act” is making headlines and has become a very controversial bill that has sparked protest in Ontario. The bill, which has been introduced and passed in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.  It amends the Education Act and the Child, Youth and Family Services Act. Here are the key provisions:

 

1. The bill allows the Education Minister to appoint supervisors to take over school boards. If a board isn’t working well, the Education Minister can override or remove trustees. 

2. It grants the Education Minister power to remove trustees and override board decisions. The Minister can fire elected board members or cancel their decisions.

3. It requires boards to implement school resource officer (SRO) programs where available. In other words it mandates the return of police officers in schools where local services offer them.

4. It expands oversight of children’s aid societies and youth services. The province will keep a closer watch on children’s aid societies and youth programs to make sure they’re following rules.

 

The bill only applies to Ontario school boards, trustees, and children’s aid societies. This is because each Canadian province controls its own education system. 

 

Criticisms of Bill 33:

 

The New Democratic Party, as well as student trustees and other groups argue that this bill damages democracy. They argue the bill centralizes power to a point in which community input is severely reduced. They view the ability for the Education Minister to override elected trustees is a power grab and doesn’t allow communities to self-govern schools.

 

Not only is there criticism for the provisions of the bill but there are also criticisms concerning the process in which it was introduced and passed. Typically, a bill goes through multiple readings, committee meetings, and public consultations before final passage. Bill 33, however, did not follow this process but instead was fast-tracked. The administration under Doug Ford skipped extended committee hearings and public debate by moving the bill quickly from introduction to final vote. The government justified this move by stating it was urgent due to school board dysfunction and the need for financial management.

 

Protests to this bill have been conducted at Queen’s Park in Toronto and Carleton University in Ottawa. 

Passed into Law

 

Ontario’s Bill 33, the Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025, has passed and received Royal Assent. It is now law, enacted as Chapter 12 of the Statutes of Ontario, 2025.

 

Sources:

 

Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Bill 33, Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025. Legislative Assembly of Ontario, 2025, https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-44/session-1/bill-33.

 

Ontario NDP. “Ontario NDP Blast Ford Government for Ramming Through Harmful Bill 33.” Ontario NDP, 19 Nov. 2025, https://www.ontariondp.ca/news/ontario-ndp-blast-ford-government-ramming-through-harmful-bill-33.

 

Global News. “Ontario’s Bill 33 Passes 3rd Reading.” Global News, 19 Nov. 2025, https://globalnews.ca/news/11531484/ontario-bill-33-passes-3rd-reading/.

 

The Charlatan. “Carleton Students Rally Against Bill 33.” The Charlatan, 20 Nov. 2025, https://charlatan.ca/carleton-students-rally-bill-33/.