From the time of writing, it has been exactly two days since I attended the widely discussed Gen-Z protest that took place in Queen’s Park in front of the Ontario Legislative Building. For those unfamiliar, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario is the provincial body responsible for making laws in Ontario, where Premier Doug Ford and members of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario (PCs) currently hold a supermajority. The March 4 protest focused largely on Ford’s controversial actions regarding the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) and tuition increases.
On Nov. 19, 2025, the Ontario Legislature passed Bill 33, the Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025, a wide-ranging law that drew protests from student groups and education advocates who say its new powers over college and university governance reach too far.
Following the Ford government’s announcement one month ago that it would end Ontario’s tuition freeze and make changes to OSAP, the backlash has only increased. OSAP previously allowed struggling students to cover up to 85 per cent of their tuition through grants, with the remaining portion issued as government loans. Beginning in fall 2026, universities will be allowed to increase tuition by two per cent annually for the next three years. At the same time, OSAP grants will be reduced to 25 per cent of aid, while loans will increase to 75 per cent.
This move sparked widespread condemnation from university student unions and opposition parties — and rightly so. We are living in a time when student unemployment is at an all-time high, and many university students, myself included, are struggling to find even the most basic part-time work just to make ends meet. Meanwhile, Ontarians are already drowning in debt, and homelessness continues to rise. Increasing tuition and slashing grants at a time like this reflects nothing short of reckless leadership from Premier Doug Ford. For all his well-documented flaws, even his late brother, Rob Ford, often spoke about his love for the people of Toronto. The same sincerity is far harder to find in Doug Ford’s government.
.Coming from a religious background, I identify with some core values of the conservative movement — or at the very least, it is safe to say that I am relatively adherent to my religious background as a Muslim. Before the announcement of the tuition changes, I must truthfully admit that I intended to join the Progressive Conservative Party through the internship program, with the hope that I would receive political insight and expertise in attending this event and the potential to use these skills in the future to help shape the political scene for the better. Following this announcement, I immediately rescinded my PC Party membership. I actively joined chat rooms that discussed planning protests against the Doug Ford government, and on the day of the protest, I marched with my fellow students down to Queen’s Park to condemn the government’s actions. This was no longer an issue of left vs. right, but an issue that united everyone, even conservative patriots themselves. It is an issue of the top destroying the lives of the people at the bottom.
As I attended this protest, I had the chance to speak with people of different political backgrounds, and I found unity with them in this crisis. Students were proudly waving the flag of Canada high to show that, deep down, we are united by our love for our country and our dislike for the corrupt leaders that continue to ruin it. I had the chance to speak with the CBC, CityNews, The Canadian Press, and UnderGround Nation as I shared my insights on why I stood with my fellow students and our message to Doug Ford. I even had the opportunity to converse with Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles and NDP MP Chris Glover, both of whom confirmed they intended to reverse the tuition changes and bring in new policies to usher better financing for students. I think it is safe to say that we will actually have a close election between the ONDP and Ontario Liberals should Nate Erskine-Smith win the leader’s seat.
Then the incident happened. Near the end of the protest, multiple members of the police force swarmed and physically attacked a student for reportedly vandalizing a monument dedicated to Ford. The students all rallied back with force as they confronted the police, who responded by shoving and manhandling the students, with one officer caught on tape hitting a student with a skateboard. I was present when this conflict emerged. Various insults and curses were thrown at the police in response to the blatant act of violence, even more so when officers proceeded to snicker and laugh. I, too, cursed at the police, yelling that I would get them all fired when I ascend to becoming Prime Minister of the country — a promise I intend to keep.
The next protest will be taking place on March 24. I very much plan to attend, and hope that others will join me in fighting for our rights. Ontario doesn’t belong to Doug Ford — it belongs to us.
