This bill, called the Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025, makes changes to laws about child, youth, and family services, education, and colleges and universities in Ontario. It updates rules for how agencies provide information, conduct reviews, and manage finances. It also increases oversight of school boards and child welfare organizations. The bill will also improve how the government ensures fairness in school admissions and research safety. Additionally, it expands the Ombudsman’s role to better oversee services for children, youth, and families. The bill will come into effect once it receives Royal Assent from the Premier.
If you or your family use child, youth, or family services, the bill requires organizations to give clearer information about how they handle complaints and protect rights. Schools will need to ask for permission from the government before changing their names and will work more closely with police to keep schools safe. Colleges and universities will have to publish clear admission criteria based on merit and develop security plans for research. Child welfare agencies will need to inform children, youth, and families more thoroughly about the Ombudsman’s role. Overall, these changes aim to improve transparency, safety, and fairness in services you or your family might depend on.
Data unavailable. The bill does not specify costs or savings directly. Changes related to review and posting of by-laws, police collaboration, and security plans may have administrative costs for organizations but specific financial impacts are not provided.
Supporters say the bill will make services more transparent and accountable. Requiring organizations to review their rules and share information helps ensure they serve children and families better. Improving oversight of school boards and child welfare agencies will increase safety and fairness in public services. The new rules about police working with schools aim to create safer environments for students. Broadening the Ombudsman’s functions will allow for better investigations into service issues affecting vulnerable children and families. Overall, proponents believe these updates will lead to more trust and improved experiences for the public.
Critics argue that the bill may lead to increased bureaucracy, which could slow down service delivery or increase costs. Requiring frequent reviews and public posting might impose additional administrative burdens on agencies, potentially diverting resources from direct services. Some worry that giving the government more control over school names, finances, and investigations might reduce local decision-making and independence. There are concerns that expanding police involvement and oversight might risk overreach or impact school environments negatively. Lastly, opponents say the costs associated with new oversight and compliance could be passed on to taxpayers or families. Data on actual financial impacts are unavailable, making it hard to judge overall cost-effectiveness.