Strengthening Campus Safety and Accountability in Ontario

We are thrilled to share a significant victory in our ongoing efforts to enhance campus safety and combat hate. As many of you know, Ontario Bill 166, known as the Strengthening Accountability and Student Supports Act, was passed in June. This landmark legislation marks a crucial step forward in addressing racism and hate on Ontario’s postsecondary campuses. However, when the legislation passed in June, one key section (20-4), which empowers the Minister to issue a directive to create standards for the implementation of reporting mechanisms for hate related incidents, had yet to be enacted. This directive would give the legislation teeth and set out how best to protect students from hate on campus.

Throughout the legislative process, CIJA worked closely with Hillel Ontario, NECA, and other campus stakeholders to ensure that the government considered the Jewish community’s concerns about antisemitism and hate on campus. We are pleased to announce that, today, newly appointed Minister of Colleges and Universities Nolan Quinn issued his directive to universities and colleges, effective immediately. This directive incorporates many of CIJA’s recommendations, marking a substantial win for our community.

What This Means for Campus Safety

The directive aims to create a safer, more inclusive campus environment by setting clear standards for handling incidents of hate and racism. Here are the core elements of the directive:

1. Standardized Reporting Process: Institutions must implement transparent and standardized reporting procedures.
2. Timely Adjudication: All hate-related complaints must be adjudicated within one year.
3. Impartial Appeals: An impartial appeals process, potentially involving the Provincial Ombudsman.
4. Annual Reporting: Institutions are required to publish aggregate incident reports annually.
5. Consistent Definitions: Definitions used in policies must align with the province’s anti-racism strategy.
6. Awareness Campaigns: Institutions must conduct public awareness campaigns about the complaint process and rights.

CIJA’s Advocacy and Achievements

Since the passage of Bill 166, CIJA has been at the forefront, advocating for crucial components to be included in the Ministerial directive. Our dedicated efforts included grassroots mobilization, action alerts, and productive discussions with the Minister’s office. We are proud to report that our submission served as a foundational guide for the new directive, addressing several key concerns.

Implementation and Future Outlook

Thanks to Bill 166, all publicly funded colleges and universities are required to develop policies addressing racism and hate. These policies must be accessible online by January 31, 2025, and reviewed every five years. Institutions must also submit annual reports on their effectiveness to the Minister, starting January 31, 2026.

While the exact consequences for non-compliance are still to be defined, CIJA will continue to work closely with the Minister’s office to ensure effective implementation and clarity on enforcement measures.

We view this directive as a promising start toward a more equitable and respectful campus environment and recognize there is more work to be done. Your continued support and engagement are vital as we work together to ensure these new standards make a meaningful impact.

Thank you for standing with us in this important endeavour.

Warm regards,

Michelle Stock
Vice President, Ontario
Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs