A lawyer for Ontario students says a government change to how students pay certain fees threatens the autonomy of the province's colleges and universities.

The Progressive Conservative government has given post-secondary students the option to opt out of many non-essential fees.

The money from such fees is used to run student clubs, newspapers, food banks and other support programs.

The province maintains students should have a choice as to which campus services they support.

Students take Ford government to court over decision to allow opt-outs of certain fees

The Canadian Federation of Students has launched a court challenge against the Ontario government's decision to allow college and university students to opt out of certain fees.

The province will also give mature students — anyone out of high school for four years or more — the same access to OSAP supports as younger students.

Students from northern Ontario colleges highly satisfied

The group, along with the York Federation of Students, filed a notice of application for judicial review asking the Ontario Superior Court to quash the policy directive.

No one likes paying student fees, but some campus clubs say axing them is a 'direct attack'

Student organizations say the Ontario government's decision to allow college and university students to opt out of the fees that fund campus groups, student newspapers and clubs will make the province's post-secondary institutions less transparent.

Several student groups expressed concerns that colleges and universities would be determining the fate of organizations meant to hold school administrators and the provincial government to account. 

Ont Tuition Fees 20180117

But a lawyer for students tells Divisional Court that the measure is largely political.

Student groups say the so-called "Students Choice Initiative" threatens programs, and amounts to student-union busting.

The Lambda, Laurentian's student newspaper may become online only

The final numbers haven’t been released but most groups at Laurentian University in Sudbury say they have a good idea about their respective results from the opt out process for student fees.

Sign saying 'Laurentian University' in English and French. 

Laurentian University sign

The Doug Ford government has given students the option to opt out of many supplementary fees, but groups say the option will force important services to shut down.

Students call for judicial review of Ontario plan to allow opt-out of certain fees

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