Proposed last May, the provincial government’s Bill 33, Supporting Children and Students Act, would give the government more control over university affairs.
The bill outlines the proposed new government powers, but the Carleton University Students’ Association (CUSA) and some Carleton University students are sounding the alarm about the bill’s potential impact.
How would Bill 33 impact Carleton?
The bill would give the Ontario’s government the power to influence club, society and resource fees, as well as require post-secondary institutions to create research security plans and implement individual merit-based admission to programs of study.
Aiden Kallioinen*, CUSA’s vice-president (student issues), said he’s worried about the bill taking autonomy away from universities.
“One of the virtues of higher education is its ability to act independently of any government,” Kallioinen said.
“I think anything that strays away from that is troubling.”
The proposed requirement of merit-based admissions could affect marginalized groups, Kallioinen added, by threatening equity considerations in admissions.
The threat against ancillary fees is CUSA’s main motivator for fighting Bill 33, Kallioinen explained. These fees support clubs and societies on campus.
CUSA itself is nearly entirely supported by ancillary fees, and there are an additional 170 clubs at Carleton that rely on CUSA’s club levy, Kallioinen said. (The Charlatan also receives funding from student levies.)
What is CUSA saying?
Because of CUSA’s concerns with the bill, the association has been raising awareness through posters on campus and events.
Students should inform themselves about the proposed legislation, Kallioinen said.
“Best thing students can do is, first of all, read the legislation, be informed and come up with your own opinions surrounding it and how you feel it’s going to affect you on a personal level,” he said.
What are students saying?
Several students interviewed by the Charlatan said they weren’t aware of Bill 33 and its potential implications for universities.
Abigale Duncan, a first-year linguistics student, said she was concerned about how fewer funds for clubs would affect her.
“Clubs are a good way for people to meet friends and explore their interests,” Duncan said. “If that gets taken away, it’s harder to do that.”
Second-year psychology student Sage Vaunder also said the changes to club funding would be an issue.
“For those who are big into the clubs and the extracurriculars, I think that is definitely a thing of concern.”
When will Bill 33 come into effect?
Bill 33 is at the second reading stage in the legislature, which means there are several steps before the bill would come into effect. These include committee examination, royal assent and Orders in Council.
While Bill 33 has yet to be passed, Kallioinen predicts the bill will come into effect as early as this coming winter, with students facing the impacts next semester.
“You don’t pass legislation if you don’t intend to act on that legislation,” Kallioinen said.
*Aidan Kallioinen has previously contributed to the Charlatan.
Featured image by Maia Tustonic/the Charlatan
