Ryan's Law, which will ensure students with asthma can keep their inhalers with them, was finally passed at the Ontario legislature on Thursday.
The bill was named for Ryan Gibbons, a 12-year-old boy who died after suffering an asthma attack during recess at his Straffordville school, southeast of London.
The school did not allow him to keep his inhaler with him, instead keeping it locked in the office because it was considered a prescribed medication.
Asthma advocates believe Ontario now becomes the first province in which children can legally carry their inhalers with them at school, with the permission of their parent, guardian or doctor.
The private member's bill was put forward by Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Jeff Yurek and supported by all MPPs.
In a statement Yurek says the bill, "will mandate all schools to develop comprehensive asthma policies to include strategies to help mitigate exposure to asthma triggers, regular training and education for staff, and a communication plan for dissemination of information on asthma to parents, pupils, and employees."
Dr. Rob Oliphant with the Asthma Society of Canada says about 20 children die every year in Canada from asthma, and to-date school boards across Ontario have only had a patchwork of policies on inhalers.
He adds that though some provinces have policies similar to Ryan's Law, he believes Ontario will be the first to make that into law.
With files from The Canadian Press
