Protect Your Right to Choose: Why Bill 33 Puts Student’s Autonomy at Risk

Written by Communications on . Posted in My AMS.

Summary

Bill 33 (Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025) if passed would give the province new power over ancillary fees at all Ontario universities. The bill risks undermining student-approved funding for services like the AMS Food Bank, Walkhome, Peer Support Centre, Bus-It, 300+ clubs, grants, equity programs, events, campus media, and student jobs. The AMS has been meeting with government officials, Queen’s administration, trustees, sector partners, and media to protect democratically approved student fees and keep student voices at the table. You can help by emailing your MPP and sharing how you depend on these services. 

What is Bill 33? 

Bill 33 is an omnibus bill that amends several provincial laws, including those that affect the post-secondary sector. A key piece of the bill would allow the province to regulate each institution’s ancillary fees often administered by student unions and organizations —potentially redefining which fees are considered “essential” and how they are collected. Although the bill’s title appears broad, the negative impacts on student services and student’s ability of self-governance are quite specific. 

Where things stand: As of October 28, 2025, the Second Reading debate is ongoing at Queen’s Park; the debate resumed on October 27 and continued on October 28. Details of any future regulations implementing fee changes are not yet known. 

Why does it matter to you? 

At Queen’s, many fees are approved by students through a democratic vote in Fall and Winter elections. Your dollars run core, student-led services that shape everyday campus life, such as AMS Food Bank, Bus-It, Walkhome, the Peer Support Centre, 300+ clubs, grants, training, events, campus media, programming, advocacy, and so much more. 

If provincial regulations introduce unilateral opt-in or reclassification mechanisms, these services would face unstable or reduced funding—leading to fewer supports, fewer student jobs, and less student voice in shaping campus life.  

In a tight university funding climate, student associations often step in to fill service gaps that universities cannot sustain on their own; this uncertainty directly affects students. 

What Could Change

  • “Essential vs. non-essential” lists. The province would determine which fees are deemed “required” and which are “optional,” making things like club fees, subject to opt-outs and creating unpredictable revenue, shifting control from you to the government. 
  • Lack of student voice in decisions. More decisions about student services are made away from campus, away from students, diminishing and undermining the role of local student democracy.

What We’ve Done So Far! 

1) Government Relations 

  • Submitted formal feedback to the Ministry and local MPPs, urging the province to: (i) protect democratically approved student fees; (ii) refer Bill 33 to the Standing Committee on Social Policy for deeper study; and (iii) require consultation with student associations before drafting any ancillary-fee regulations. 
  • Attended province-wide town hall convened by MPP Peggy Sattler (NDP Shadow Minister for Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence & Security) to present Queen’s students’ concerns, highlight service-continuity risks, and coordinate next steps with student peers across Ontario. 

2) Engagement with Queen’s administration 

  • Met with Senior Administration (student affairs/finance/government relations) to outline risks to clubs, Food Bank, Walkhome, PSC, grants, equity programming, align on messaging, and set rapid information-sharing as the bill evolves. 
  • Spoke to the Board of Trustees and engaged the Chancellor and Board Chair on student-facing impacts and the democratic legitimacy of student-approved fees; requested institutional support and contingency awareness to safeguard core services. 

3) Sector alignment 

  • Signed and promoted the coalitions open letter to the Premier and Ministers calling for consultation, committee referral, and review of the fee-governance clause. 

4) Media & public awareness 

  • Engaged media (e.g., Global News and campus/community outlets) explain what students stand to lose if fee stability erodes and why student democracy matters. 

5) Internal planning & readiness 

  • Mapped potential scenarios (opt-outs, reclassifications, timing) against AMS policies/timelines and reinforced consistency and accuracy in internal processes. 
  • Briefed AMS Assembly, Board of Directors, and Senior Managers with information and regular status updates for organization-wide readiness. 

What You Can Do. 

  • Share reliable info. Post links to coalition materials and sector analyses; talk with classmates and faculty about why stable, student-approved fees matter. 
  • Engage with AMS! Watch for AMS updates, attend Assembly, and join campus actions; add your voice to a unified student response. 

The Bottom Line 

Bill 33 isn’t “just another bill.” It reshapes who decides which student fees exist and how they’re collected—endangering essential student services and student self-governance. By staying informed and speaking up together, we can protect the services that make Queen’s a strong, supportive community. 

 

Learn more / sources: 

 

For any questions, concerns, or media inquiries, please contact the Communications Office, at . We’re here to help.

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