Ontario’s controversial Bill 33 headed to final vote at Queen’s Park

Ontario’s controversial Bill 33 is heading for its final vote today at Queen’s Park.

The “Supporting Children and Students Act” would allow the Education Minister to appoint school board supervisors, effectively sidelining elected trustees.

If passed, the bill would also require police presence within schools if school resource officer (SRO) programs are offered by the local police department.

“This bill will allow me, even in those situations where a board is in a financially good spot but where governance has fallen apart, it will allow me to step in and put it back on track for parents, students, and teachers, and I won’t hesitate,” said Education Minister Paul Calandra.

“Every single board in the province of Ontario, govern yourself accordingly. Put the resources in for students, parents, and teachers. If you don’t, I’ll step in and do it for you.”

Calandra introduced the bill, saying his investigation into school board finances showed growing deficits and resource depletion. But critics say the bill doesn’t take community voices into account.

Ontario’s New Democratic Party warn that Bill 33 would silence student voices and undermine democratic governance over education.

“As you know, they have rushed through [the bill] and had no debate,” says NDP leader Marit Styles.

“They’ve time-allocated it, there has been very little debate, and there have been no committee hearings. They’ve indicated they don’t want to hear from the people of Ontario. We are trying to use every tool in the toolbox that we have, and let me tell you the government has changed all the rules to make sure there are very few tools that we have to be able to slow this down.”

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