On Jan. 19, the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario (CFS Ontario) hosted a joint teach-in at the First Student Centre. The teach-in was aimed at discussing the effects of Bill 33, its impact, and the defunding of education across Ontario. Hosted in room 307, the teach-in featured three speakers from CFS Ontario: Chairperson Cyrielle Ngeleka, National Executive Representative Omar Mousa, and Campaigns and Communications Coordinator Adaeze Mbalaja. The CFS Ontario chapter, which represents 350,000 students in Ontario post-secondary institutions, is the “oldest and largest student organization in the province,” according to the organization’s official website.
The teach-in is also part of the provincial Hands Off Our Education campaign which was launched by CFS Ontario. It aims to oppose “the persistent and targeted attacks on education.” The campaign has the following demands for members of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario: “Reject Bill 33, defend and legislate students’ right to organize and safeguard the autonomy of campuses, and provide immediate and dedicated public funding into the post-secondary education system.”
For Mousa, the campaign has “brought about new materials for member locals to utilize, bringing students into organization and informing them of the upcoming threats against education.” Additionally, CFS Ontario has utilized petitions, organized a Week of Action province-wide, and set up an email tool to let the government know how students feel. He concluded that the “only thing the government should concern themselves with is providing consistent and dedicated public funding for post-secondary education.”
Bill 33, also called the “Supporting Children and Students Act,” was passed in November 2025. During the teach-in, CFS Ontario circulated a booklet which discussed the ramifications of the bill. According to CFS Ontario, the bill will impact all levels of education in Ontario by “centralizing decision-making power” to the Education Minister and the Minister of Colleges, Universities, and Research Excellence and Security. Among the impacts to post-secondary students, CFS Ontario warns that Bill 33’s passing means “changes to admissions policies, destruction of campus democracy, [and] even more corporate influence within academic priorities.”
CFS Ontario further highlighted in the booklet how government funding has steadily decreased and is virtually “non-existent.” Ngeleka pointed out that “what we’re still paying is a sky-high amount of tuition,” and that at this point in time, post-secondary education is receiving less funding than it did in the 1980s. The provincial government isn’t the only one underfunding education. According to Ngelaka, as between 1983 and 1984, post-secondary education received 0.49 per cent of GDP from the federal government, which decreased to 0.19 per cent by 2021–2022.
Additionally, with the introduction of “merit-based admissions,” CFS Ontario claims EDI initiatives are being slashed. They specify in their booklet that these initiatives are already based on merit, and are “specifically designed to increase access to education.” They also say the government has given itself jurisdiction over “democratically implemented” campus ancillary fees.
Specifically, CFS Ontario warns that campus autonomy, student services, student organizations, student clubs, equity and sexual violence resources, food centres, and other services (introduced by and for students) are being threatened. It also emphasizes the role of the private sector, and how “we’re already seeing this takeover at our institutions.” Most Board of Governors seats are, according to CFS Ontario, held by corporate CEOs or CFOs, with only a minority held by students.
For Mousa, both The Ministry of Colleges, Universities, and Research Excellence and Security, and the provincial government, have been “dismissive of students when requesting more information on what this bill truly means for us.” He also adds that the Federation has engaged the Ministry several times, but has not received a fulsome response. “We will continue to attempt to engage with the government in hopes of rescinding this bill and finally prioritizing students and post-secondary education.”
In the meantime, CFS Ontario will continue its fight for “free, accessible, and publicly funded post-secondary education for all students; graduate and undergraduate, domestic and international, full-time and part-time.” Excalibur reached out to the Premier’s office, the Minister of Education, and the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, and Research Excellence and Security for comments, but was not given a response.
