Ottawa’s police chief says his force wants to work with schools to add police to their hallways following the expected passing of an Ontario law that would mandate police presence in schools. 

Bill 33, Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025, would bring wide-ranging change to Ontario’s education system and is expected to be passed this fall. The bill would require police officers in some Ontario schools.

“We see this as a partnership with schools,” Ottawa Police Chief Eric Stubbs told CBC on Tuesday. “We don’t say we’re in schools, we say we’re working with the school.” 

“I’m very supportive of these types of programs,” he added. “In my experience, throughout my career, there are a lot of benefits to them.” 

At the same time, however, Stubbs says OPS is not going to “impose” itself on any schools. 

“We want to work with the school, and based on conversations I’ve had, they want to work with us.” 

Board voted to end program

The education ministry has said police officers in schools “help foster positive relationships between students and law enforcement, ultimately making our schools safer.”

But not everyone is supporting the move. Protests have popped up around the province against the proposed law, including in Ottawa. 

“It’s a clear message that communities, students and parents are sending that we do not want police in school,” said Tianna Thompson during a protest with around 20 other people on Tuesday. “Students need mental health support, smaller class sizes, transit passes back, and police have no part in student success.”

Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) trustees voted in June 2021 to cut its school resource officer (SRO) program after a review prompted by concerns among racialized and LGBTQ students. OPS subsequently ended the program at all school boards in the city.

In January 2025, OPS started a new program that assigned one officer to each of Ottawa’s four school districts to support educators without being stationed inside a school building. 

It was a response to a “larger trend” of violence in schools, developed in consultation with school boards, according to police. The proposal under Bill 33 would allow OPS to return to a SRO model.Â