Student Choice Initiative Archives

Court dismisses Student Choice Initiative appeal

Written on August 4, 2021. Posted in News.

The Ontario Court of Appeal unanimously dismissed Ontario’s appeal to bring back the Student Choice Initiative (SCI) on Aug. 4. The SCI was introduced by the Ford provincial government in January 2019 to allow post-secondary students to opt out of previously mandatory ancillary fees deemed non-essential....

Court hears appeal for Student Choice Initiative

Written on March 26, 2021. Posted in News.

The Ontario Court of Appeal heard the appeal for the Student Choice Initiative (SCI) on Tuesday. The SCI was first introduced by the Ford government in January 2019 to allow students to opt-out of previously mandatory fees. It was struck down by the Ontario Divisional Court in November 2019, and...

Canadian Federation of Students to advocate for student groups in Student Choice Initiative Appeal

Written on March 23, 2021. Posted in News.

Prior to the appeal of the Student Choice Initiative (SCI) on March 23, the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario (CFS-O) is preparing to advocate for the autonomy of student organizations. The CFS-O is hoping the court upholds the original ruling from the Ontario Divisional Court in 2019, according...

Ford wants to restore the Student Choice Initiative during a pandemic. It’s a low blow.

Written on March 5, 2021. Posted in Editorials.

The Student Choice Initiative (SCI) had devastating consequences for students and student clubs when it was implemented in 2019. Bringing it back now—in the midst of a pandemic—will only harm students more. Queen’s University is one of five universities intervening in the Ford administration’s appeal,...

Despite intervenor status, Queen’s “not taking sides” in Student Choice Initiative appeal

Written on March 2, 2021. Posted in News.

Queen’s University will be intervening in the Ford government’s appeal to bring back the Student Choice Initiative (SCI). “The universities have made it clear that they are not taking sides in the appeal; rather, they felt the court could benefit from hearing the university perspective about what...

Ford government to appeal Student Choice Initiative court ruling in March

Written on February 24, 2021. Posted in News.

Over a year after it was struck down in court, the Ford government is trying to bring back the Student Choice Initiative (SCI). On March 23 and 24, the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU) will appeal the Divisional Court’s 2019 ruling that struck down the SCI. The SCI is a policy,...

Student fees regain mandatory status

Written on June 1, 2020. Posted in News.

Several student fees regained mandatory status for the 2020-21 year due to the suspension of the Student Choice Initiative (SCI). The Board of Trustees approved the student ancillary fees for the 2020-21 year at a meeting on May 8. These include fees for Accessibility Queen’s, the AMS Membership Fee,...

QLA gifted $200,000 from Toronto law firm

Written on January 24, 2020. Posted in News.

Bogoroch & Associates LLP donated $200,000 to Queen’s Legal Aid (QLA) on Wednesday for support after the clinic suffered from funding cuts to Legal Aid Ontario and the impact of the Student Choice Initiative (SCI). In an interview with The Journal, QLA director Blair Crew said the contribution...

After losing thousands, Food Bank student fee up for mandatory status

Written on January 24, 2020. Posted in News.

The AMS Food Bank lost $6,000 this year following the implementation of the Student Choice Initiative—about a quarter of its overall budget. There’s also been an uptick in the service’s use of about 15 to 20 per cent. The Food Bank’s $2 student fee is up for mandatory status on the winter referendum...

More than 2,500 can’t vote in AMS elections after membership opt-outs

Written on January 24, 2020. Posted in News.

More than 2,500 Queen’s students will be prevented from casting a ballot in the AMS elections after opting out of the Society’s membership fee in September. 15.83 per cent of students chose to opt out of the membership fee after the Student Choice Initiative (SCI) made it, and many others, optional....

AMS votes to put Food Bank fee on referendum for mandatory status

Written on January 17, 2020. Posted in News, Student Politics.

The AMS gathered for the first Assembly of the year on Thursday night to discuss fall term break, the aftermath of the Student Choice Initiative being quashed, Queen’s Period, and event sanctioning. The meeting began with a moment of silence for the victims of the Ukrainian flight PS752 crash in Tehran...

AMS seeks to reinstate jobs lost after Student Choice Initiative

Written on January 17, 2020. Posted in News, Student Politics.

Following the loss of 100 jobs due to the Student Choice Initiative (SCI) last September, the AMS is looking to restructure and reinstate those positions, pending approval from the board of directors. The SCI, a mandate that deemed ancillary student fees non-essential and allowed students to opt out...

As some Ontario universities close opt-out portals, Queen’s keeps its site open

Written on January 10, 2020. Posted in News.

In the weeks following the Nov. 21 Divisional Court ruling that unanimously struck down the Student Choice Initiative (SCI), many Ontario universities began closing their online ancillary fee opt-out portals. The University of Toronto, Ryerson University, and the University of Ottawa are some of the...

Province will appeal decision that overturned Student Choice Initiative

Written on December 9, 2019. Posted in News.

The Ontario government has applied for leave to appeal a Divisional Court ruling that struck down the Student Choice Initiative (SCI), The Globe and Mail reported Monday evening. The SCI—a directive that deemed many student fees “non-essential” and allowed students to opt out of them—was unanimously...

Province reviewing decision that struck down Student Choice Initiative

Written on November 29, 2019. Posted in News.

The Divisional Court of Ontario unanimously struck down the Student Choice Initiative on Nov. 21. A week later, uncertainty remains for student organizations impacted by the directive. In May, the Canadian Federation of Students–Ontario (CFS-O) and the York Federation of Students filed an application...

Deane talks Student Choice Initiative, Wellness Services at Special Assembly

Written on November 29, 2019. Posted in News.

When Principal Patrick Deane appeared at AMS Special Assembly on Monday, the first question he was asked was about the Student Choice Initiative (SCI). Deane visited Assembly on Nov. 25 to expand his Conversation initiative, a series of open forum meetings he’s hosting this year to inform the University’s...

Student Choice Initiative’s defeat doesn’t mean the fight is over

Written on November 29, 2019. Posted in Editorials.

The Student Choice Initiative (SCI) might have been struck down in court, but for student associations, the fight is far from over. Last week, when the Divisional Court of Ontario unanimously ruled in favour of repealing the Ford government-mandated initiative, student-led groups across the province...

Student Choice Initiative struck down in divisional court

Written on November 22, 2019. Posted in News.

In a unanimous decision, the Ford government’s Student Choice Initiative (SCI) was ruled unlawful by the Divisional Court of Ontario on Thursday. First reported by The Varsity, the Divisional Court of Ontario ruled in favour of a collective of student groups on Nov. 21, including the York Federation...

Campus radio station hit hard by Student Choice Initiative

Written on November 22, 2019. Posted in News.

After the Student Choice Initiative (SCI) was announced in January, CFRC station manager Dinah Jansen was prepared to fight for the radio’s relevance. When the final opt-out numbers arrived last week, she discovered the station had lost a third of its student revenue. “We projected anywhere from...

Queen’s legal aid clinic loses $22,000 under Student Choice Initiative

Written on November 8, 2019. Posted in News.

The Queen’s Legal Aid (QLA) clinic lost $22,000 in funding following the implementation of the Student Choice Initiative (SCI) this fall. The SCI was introduced by the provincial government in January, and gave students the choice of opting out of fees deemed “non-essential” by the Ministry of...

Work-study program loses more than $30,000 from Student Choice Initiative

Written on November 8, 2019. Posted in News.

A program designed to help low-income students secure part-time jobs on campus or at a local not-for-profit lost more than $30,000 this fall as a result of the Student Choice Initiative (SCI). The SCI was introduced by the provincial government in January, and transitioned many student fees deemed...

Student societies alleged Queen’s mishandled Student Choice Initiative implementation

Written on November 1, 2019. Posted in News.

During the months-long process of implementing the Student Choice Initiative (SCI), the AMS and SGPS raised serious concerns to administrators about their lack of collaboration and communication on the file, The Journal has learned. Through a freedom of information request, The Journal obtained a...

Nearly 16 per cent of undergraduates opt out of AMS membership

Written on November 1, 2019. Posted in News.

After fee opt-out numbers were finalized under the Student Choice Initiative (SCI), AMS President Auston Pierce told The Journal the rates were lower than expected. Announced by the Ford government in January, the SCI is a policy that allows students to opt out of fees deemed non-essential by the...

In face of funding cuts, Golden Words keeps its shine

Written on October 23, 2019. Posted in News.

The Student Choice Initiative (SCI) is no joke to Golden Words editors Seth Davis and Oren Katz. But it’s not going to be the satirical paper’s downfall, either. In an interview with The Journal, the editors of Golden Words’ 54th volume described changes the long-standing comedy publication is making...

Court hears first arguments in CFS-O lawsuit over Student Choice Initiative

Written on October 18, 2019. Posted in News.

The Ontario Divisional Court heard arguments from the Canadian Federation of Students-Ontario (CFS-O) and the York Federation of Students (YFS) during the first hearing in the groups’ legal challenge against the province’s Student Choice Initiative (SCI) on Oct. 11. The CFS-O filed an application...

AMS gathers for first assembly of the year

Written on September 20, 2019. Posted in News.

The AMS kicked off its first assembly of the year by approving service and governance budgets, discussing the Student Choice Initiative, and talking updates to the campus alcohol policy. Discussion about the JDUC redevelopment was tabled until the next Assembly in October. In his first President’s...

Kingston’s Sexual Assault Center braces for cuts from Student Choice Initiative

Written on September 17, 2019. Posted in News.

The Sexual Assault Center Kingston (SACK) could lose as much as $21,000 in annual funding as a result of the Student Choice Initiative (SCI), The Journal has learned. Following the Ontario government’s implementation of the SCI, the Center’s fee, mandatory since 1989, has lost that status, allowing...

Q&A: Ontario Liberal leadership candidates talk student issues

Written on September 17, 2019. Posted in News.

The Journal spoke with four candidates for the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party to ask about OSAP, the Student Choice Initiative, advocacy for low-income students, and sexual violence on campus. Here’s what the leadership hopefuls said: These interviews have been edited for clarity. Will...

Campus news outlets face uncertain futures without mandatory fees

Written on September 9, 2019. Posted in Editorials.

Without student newspapers, student activities, and accomplishments would go largely unrecognized. And yet, those very same publications won’t be able to operate for much longer without support from the communities they work so diligently to serve. Earlier this month, several Ontario university...

Queen’s should supplement food bank funding loss

Written on September 9, 2019. Posted in Editorials.

Under Premier Doug Ford’s Student Choice Initiative (SCI), health and counselling remain an essential category for student fees. But a failure to mandate student fees for the campus food bank equates a failure to recognize food security as a critical component of health. Over the summer, The Journal...

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