Ontario’s Bill 33 raises fears of fresh funding cuts to campus media
Ontario’s Bill 33, which grants the government authority to determine which student ancillary fees are mandatory, has sparked fears among campus media outlets of renewed funding cuts similar to those experienced under the scrapped Student Choice Initiative. Student newspapers like The Silhouette and The Eyeopener, still recovering from past financial losses, are already scaling back budgets in anticipation of potential opt-outs. Advocates warn that reduced funding could force closures, limit reporting on critical campus issues, and undermine media literacy at a time of declining public trust in journalism. The provincial government says the bill promotes transparency and is consulting with stakeholders, but no timeline for decisions has been provided.
- ▪Bill 33 allows Ontario students to opt out of certain ancillary fees, raising concerns that campus media funding could be severely impacted as it was under the previous Student Choice Initiative.
- ▪Under the earlier policy, The Eyeopener lost 70% of its budget and The Silhouette saw a 35% drop in fee revenue, leading to reduced publishing frequency and staffing cuts.
- ▪Seventy-five percent of The Arthur’s budget at Trent University comes from a student fee, and losing 30% to 60% could force it to stop printing and hiring editors.
- ▪The government states Bill 33 aims to increase transparency in postsecondary fees and is consulting with the sector, but has not specified when changes might take effect.
- ▪Student media advocates, including the Canadian University Press, fear the bill could accelerate the decline of campus journalism amid broader cuts to journalism programs and rising public distrust in media.
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Open this photo in gallery:A recent issue of The Silhouette, McMaster University's student newspaper, at their offices on campus in Hamilton, April 28.Nick Iwanyshyn/The Globe and MailShareSave for laterPlease log in to bookmark this story.Log InCreate Free AccountAndrew Mrozowski remembers when the Ontario government’s Student Choice Initiative slashed the budget for McMaster University’s campus newspaper, The Silhouette, where he worked as the arts and culture editor.The policy allowed students to withdraw from ancillary fees for services deemed non-essential, such as student unions, clubs and campus media.
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