The Ford government’s SCI continues to be declared unlawful, and Ontario student groups may resume operations without government interference
On Aug. 4, the Court of Appeal for Ontario upheld the Divisional Court’s unanimous ruling that the Student Choice Initiative (SCI) is unlawful and harmful to post-secondary students as it interferes with the democratic processes of student organizations.
The SCI was a policy introduced by the Ford government in January 2019 that required post-secondary institutions to provide students with an opt-out option for student organizational fees.
Although government officials claimed the SCI would benefit students by giving them a way to save money, the ensuing lack of funding to campus newspapers, student unions, and other clubs and services jeopardized university autonomy and support for students. The policy was also announced alongside a substantial cut to OSAP.
The following November, the Divisional Court ruled against the SCI, but the Ford government requested an appeal which was held in March 2021.
According to the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), the SCI was never meant to help students, but rather defund student unions and groups that held the government accountable.
“Students’ unions exist on campuses around the world to provide students with a united voice, advocate for change and operate essential support services,” said CFS’ National Executive Representative Kayla Weiler.
“Ontario’s students deserve the same and it is not the place of the Premier or Minister to interfere with long-standing democratic processes.”
Due to the ruling, student organizations will be able to continue funding resources such as LGBTQ2S+ centres, women’s centres, cultural clubs, campus media, food banks, and more with democratically-elected fees.
The CFS calls on the government to respect the Divisional Court’s decision and not to take the ruling to the Supreme Court so that public funds can be “better spent elsewhere” such as on pandemic safety precautions.
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