MPP Sarah Jama: Concerns About Bill 166 Government Attempt to Police Anti-Racism and Mental Health Policy on College and University Campuses

Over a thousand people have contacted our office over the last week to voice their concerns on Bill 166. Like everyone writing to my office, | am deeply concerned by the continuous political overreach and interference from this government.

On its face, Bill 166 appears to tackle racism and mental health concerns on university and college campuses. In reality, this bill gives unprecedented power to the Minister of Colleges and Universities to dictate what they deem acceptable anti-racism and mental health policy on individual campuses. Despite the legitimate concerns around mental health and anti-racism policy on university and college campuses, this egregious level of overreach is not a solution—especially coming from this current government.

In the last decade, incidences of anti-Black racism and policing on campuses have ballooned in Ontario. This is particularly true when we examine the patterns of university responses to student protests, carding on campuses, attempts to organize around trans safety, the abuse of mental health policy to expel disabled students, et cetera. These systemic issues do need to be properly addressed, but that cannot happen by an overreaching top-down approach by a divisive Ford Government. Rather, there is good reason to believe that Bill 166 would exacerbate these issues and are intended to squash student movement work making it even harder for student movements to critique existing policy.

Since this government has come to power, they have defunded the Anti-Racism Directorate, Indigenous education curriculum, and has spoken out against various movements on multiple occasions which sought and continue to seek to improve the material conditions of racialized and disabled community members. When considering how the many crises this government has manufactured contribute to rising levels of hate and adds to stress and poor mental health in our communities, this decision can only be described as absurd. If Doug Ford’s government wants to do something to help with mental health and anti-racism on university campuses, they should reinvest in Ontario's colleges and universities, walk back all the cuts to financial assistance for students, and walk back all the cuts to curriculum and programs that help that spread cultural understanding.

Both anti-racism and mental health policy on campuses should be informed by those with lived experiences and serve those most vulnerable to hate and discrimination. It should be developed by the students and staff present on campus who will be most affected by these policies.