Ontario Colleges, Universities Seek Billions More in Funding Ahead of Budget

Ontario’s post-secondary colleges and universities are making an urgent appeal to the Ford government for billions of dollars in new funding as part of this year’s provincial budget consultations. Representatives from both sectors told lawmakers that years of low per-student funding, a freeze on domestic tuition and a federal cap on international students have left institutions with shrinking revenue sources and widening budget shortfalls.

According to the Council of Ontario Universities (COU), Ontario’s universities are among the lowest funded per student in Canada, with operating deficits expected to grow significantly over the next few years. In its pre-budget submission, the COU said the sector needs an additional $1.2 billion in annual funding in 2026–27, increasing to about $1.6 billion by 2028–29, to sustain current services and support student access and research capacity.

Colleges Ontario, which represents the province’s public colleges, also underscored the financial strain facing its members. The organization is pushing for roughly $1.5 billion in new operational and related funding, warning that without increased investments, programs could be cut, campuses might face closures and students could encounter fewer training opportunities in sectors critical to the economy, such as technology, advanced manufacturing and skilled trades.

Leaders from both the university and college sectors say the current funding model does not reflect growing enrolments or the true cost of delivering high-quality education and training. They note that domestic university applications have risen significantly in recent years, adding pressure on institutions already grappling with reduced revenue from international students — historically a major source of funding that has diminished following federal visa restrictions.

In response, the provincial government has pointed to recent increases in operating funding and ongoing reviews of the post-secondary funding formula, saying it aims to align supports with student success outcomes and wider labour-market needs. However, college and university advocates say the pace and scale of current measures fall short of what’s needed to prevent further program cuts and financial instability.

As Ontario prepares its 2026 budget, education leaders are calling on policymakers to treat higher education funding as an investment in the province’s long-term economic competitiveness and workforce development, rather than a cost to be contained.