‘Crazy Marxist’ student unions targeted by Ford
Student fees, which fund them, now opt-in
The Progressive Conservatives ended mandatory ancillary student fees to tackle the red menace.
That’s the message of the governing party’s latest fundraising email blast sent Monday titled “How broken was education?”
“Students were forced into unions and forced to pay for those unions,” Premier Doug Ford said of the fees that helped to bankroll student government.
“I think we all know what kind of crazy Marxist nonsense student unions get up to. So, we fixed that. Student union fees are now opt-in,” said Ford.
Student fees, which can add as much as $2,000 a year to postsecondary costs, fund numerous on-campus activities and clubs, including newspapers. Only programs that support transit, health and wellness — like athletics, walk-safe programs or counselling — and career services will be mandatory.
Liberal MPP Mitzie Hunter (Scarborough-Guildwood), the former post-secondary minister, said Ford “knows literally next to nothing about student unions.”
“He seems to think his opt-out plan will help students and defund radical organizations. What he will actually defund are diversity clubs, student newspapers, (LGBT) centres, food banks, walk-home programs, Indigenous centres, and other important programming,” said Hunter.
“Doug Ford is attacking student unions because he doesn’t want students to be able to organize to fight against not only this round of cuts, but the next round as well,” said NDP MPP Chris Glover (Spadina-Fort York)
The College Student Alliance has already reached out to postsecondary minister Merrilee Fullerton about the PC fundraising appeal.
“It’s disappointing to see the language used toward democratically elected bodies, as we know the value of on-campus student representation,” said Brittany Greig, alliance president .
“Student unions provide essential services, like academic appeal assistance and food banks, that will be missed should they no longer exist. We urge the government to reconsider the ‘student choice initiative,’ and we are dedicated to helping them develop a better policy.”