Ontario has made it illegal for schools to keep inhalers away from kids suffering from asthma with legislation crafted following the death of a 12-year-old boy.

Ryan's Law is named for Ryan Gibbons, who died Oct. 9, 2012, after suffering an asthma attack during recess. His school in Straffordville, southeast of London, did not allow him to keep his puffer with him, despite repeated efforts by his mother and a doctor's note.

It seems like a matter of common sense that kids would have access to their life-saving medication, said Progressive Conservative MPP Jeff Yurek, who introduced the private member's bill passed unanimously Thursday.

Once the bill receives royal assent every school in Ontario will be required to allow a student to carry asthma medication with the permission of their parent or guardian and doctor.

It will also require schools to develop ways to reduce exposure to asthma triggers and that every principal develop an individual plan for each student who has asthma with the child's doctor.

In Manitoba, children can carry inhalers at all times. Teachers and school administration are taught to administer the medication.

Provincial policy, in place since 1999 in schools and day care settings, states medication that may be urgently required must not be locked up and shall be carried at all times with the child or adult responsible. Those medications include inhalers and epi pens.

A Manitoba government spokesperson said the provincial education, health and family services departments provide joint funding to train educators and develop health care plans.

School boards across the province had a patchwork of policies on inhalers and though some provinces have policies similar to Ryan's Law, the Asthma Society of Canada's president and CEO said he believes Ontario will be the first to enact a law.

(With files from the Canadian Press)