Bill 33 puts student organizations across Ontario at risk as fees could become optional
Provincial law allows government to make ancillary fees optional, threatening groups that fund newspapers, clubs, and campus services at Ottawa universities and Carleton.
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Student groups at Ottawa universities and Carleton are bracing for potential budget cuts this fall after Ontario's Bill 33 — the Supporting Children and Students Act — took effect in November 2025. The law gives the provincial government power to make ancillary fees optional for post-secondary students.
If enough students opt out, the groups that depend on this funding could lose critical revenue or cease operations entirely. The Fulcrum, uOttawa's student newspaper, is among organizations at risk. "It's that voice on campus where people feel that they can take back that agency," said Alexandrea Abungin, co-editor-in-chief of The Fulcrum.
Five organizations representing 30,000 students at Carleton University have formed a coalition to raise awareness of the law's potential impact as the new school year begins. "Bill 33 makes it much harder for us to provide services. It's going to be students across Ontario who are going to suffer from that," said Nathan Harlan, vice-president at the Carleton University Students' Association.
The groups provide more than just news — they offer meals, professional development, and community resources. Ryan Welsh, who runs Algonquin College's manufacturing and electronics club, warned that cutting these resources could make college appear cheaper without actually benefiting students. "Cutting community resources is a way of making college appear cheaper so that the province doesn't actually have to invest in it," Welsh said.
The government says it is prioritizing transparency in how fees are used. A spokesperson for Minister Nolan Quinn said the bill "ensures transparency and fosters better trust" and that the province recently concluded consultations to identify which ancillary fees should or should not be optional. The outcome of those consultations has not been announced.
While Carleton students will pay $3.67 per semester for their student newspaper, The Charlatan, under current arrangements, student leaders fear this semester may be the last with that funding intact. Abungin said student coalitions are forming to anticipate what might happen if the government moves forward with making fees optional, but the details of the government's implementation plan remain unclear.
Which ancillary fees will the province decide to make optional, and when?
If fees become optional, how many students would need to opt out to force a group to shut down?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
When did Bill 33 take effect in Ontario?
Bill 33, the Supporting Children and Students Act, took effect in November 2025.
What does Bill 33 allow the Ontario government to do?
Bill 33 gives the provincial government power to make ancillary fees optional for post-secondary students.
How many students are represented by the coalition formed at Carleton University?
Five organizations representing 30,000 students at Carleton University formed a coalition to raise awareness of Bill 33's potential impact.
How much do Carleton students currently pay per semester for The Charlatan student newspaper?
Carleton students pay $3.67 per semester for The Charlatan student newspaper under current arrangements.
