📊 Recent Policy Shifts in Ontario's Post-Secondary Landscape

In a significant move to address long-standing financial pressures in Ontario's colleges and universities, the provincial government announced a $6.4 billion investment over four years in the post-secondary sector. This funding boost, detailed in the official government release, aims to raise annual operating funding to $7 billion, marking a 30 percent increase and the highest level in the province's history. The plan includes creating 70,000 more seats in in-demand programs, with a particular focus on supporting small, rural, northern, French-language, and Indigenous institutes.

Key components of this overhaul include lifting a seven-year tuition freeze that has been in place since 2019. Publicly assisted colleges and universities can now raise domestic tuition fees by up to 2 percent per year for the next three years, followed by increases capped at 2 percent or the three-year average inflation rate, whichever is lower. For context, the average annual university tuition in Ontario stands at around $8,958, meaning the initial hike could add about $179 per year—or roughly $0.47 per day for university students and $0.18 per day for college students. Low-income learners benefit from enhancements to the Student Access Guarantee (SAG), which covers tuition, books, and fees if needed.

Accompanying these changes are adjustments to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), shifting the maximum grant portion from previous levels up to 85 percent to a cap of 25 percent of the aid package starting Fall 2026, with at least 75 percent as repayable loans. This need-based program, which combines grants and loans to help cover tuition, books, living costs, and more, is designed to promote greater student accountability while ensuring long-term sustainability amid taxpayer concerns.

These reforms respond to multiple pressures, including federal caps on international student enrollment that have slashed revenues—colleges alone lost billions from what was once a $1.7 billion annual contribution greater than provincial grants. The goal is to align education with labour market needs, fostering a skilled workforce for Ontario's economy.

🎤 Premier Doug Ford's Direct Message to Students

Amid backlash to these announcements, Premier Doug Ford addressed student concerns head-on during a February 17, 2026, press conference. Having fielded 'thousands of calls' from worried learners over the long weekend, Ford defended the changes while delivering pointed advice: "You're picking basket-weaving courses, and there's not too many baskets being sold out there. Go into healthcare, go into trades." He emphasized focusing on 'jobs of the future' in areas like science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), as well as health care and skilled trades.

The term 'basket-weaving courses' is a longstanding idiom originating in the mid-20th century United States, often used derogatorily to describe programs perceived as frivolous or lacking practical job market value—typically humanities or liberal arts degrees without clear vocational paths. Ford extended his critique by sharing 'nightmare stories' of students allegedly misusing OSAP funds on luxury items like fancy watches and cologne, stating, "That doesn't fly with the taxpayers." His comments underscore a push for accountability, urging students to 'invest in your future' through programs with strong employment prospects.

While provocative, Ford's remarks highlight a broader debate on the return on investment for post-secondary education, especially as Ontario grapples with youth unemployment and skill shortages in key sectors.

💰 Decoding OSAP: From Grants to Greater Loan Reliance

The Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) has long been a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of post-secondary students, providing financial aid based on family income, tuition costs, and living expenses. Prior to 2026 changes, eligible students could receive up to 85 percent of their package as non-repayable grants, minimizing debt burdens. Now, the maximum grant share drops to 25 percent, with the balance as loans that accrue interest post-graduation (though with grace periods and income-contingent repayment options).

This shift affects full-time and part-time students alike, excluding grants for private career colleges to align with federal policies. For an average university student facing $8,958 in tuition plus living costs exceeding $15,000 annually in major cities like Toronto, the change could mean thousands more in debt. Nationally, Canadian graduates carry average debts around $28,000, and Ontario's adjustments risk exacerbating this, particularly for low- and middle-income families.

• Eligibility basics: Assessed via online application using tax data; covers Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and protected persons.
• Impact example: A student previously getting $10,000 aid (85% grant = $8,500 free) now maxes at $2,500 grant, borrowing $7,500.
• Mitigations: Enhanced SAG for low-income, plus provincial programs targeting health care trainees.

Critics argue this burdens graduates entering volatile job markets, while proponents say it encourages prudent program choices and preserves the program's viability.

📉 The Roots of Ontario's Higher Education Funding Crisis

Ontario's post-secondary institutions have faced chronic underfunding, with per-student operating grants now at just 55 percent of the Canadian average—the lowest among provinces. Since Premier Ford's Progressive Conservatives took office in 2018, policies like a tuition freeze, 15 percent grant cut in 2019, and performance-based funding shifts strained budgets further. The 2024 federal international student cap delivered a devastating blow: colleges reported $1.8 billion in cuts, 600 programs suspended, and 8,000 jobs lost; universities teeter on a 'financial cliff' with deficits mounting.

For instance, Loyalist and Northern Colleges projected massive shortfalls, leading to layoffs and program eliminations. Overall, international students once covered more costs than provincial funding, but enrollment plummeted 35 percent nationally. The $6.4 billion infusion—building on $2 billion since 2024—raises base per-student funding by 6 percent for full-time and 30 percent for part-timers, yet experts like the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) call it a step forward but insufficient to catch up.

This context frames the OSAP and tuition tweaks as efforts to stabilize without massive tax hikes, prioritizing in-demand credentials amid labour shortages: Ontario needs 680,000 health workers and 500,000 tradespeople by 2031 per government labour market reports.

🗣️ Voices from Students, Faculty, and Beyond

Student reactions have been swift and vocal, with social media ablaze under hashtags like #OSAPCuts and #BasketWeavingGate. Many express fears of crippling debt: "It doesn't matter the course; debt is debt," tweeted one user. Protests and petitions highlight tuition hikes compounding costs in a high-rent province. A related discussion on prior funding woes appears in this coverage of student responses to tuition rises.

Faculty and administrators welcome the funding but decry OSAP shifts. OCUFA noted Ontario's lag in per-student support, while Colleges Ontario praised seat expansions. Opposition NDP critics labeled Ford's words 'insulting,' defending humanities' role in well-rounded education. Balanced views emerge: some X posts agree on prioritizing trades amid 90 percent employment rates there versus variable humanities outcomes.

🎓 Beyond the Buzzword: Valuing Diverse Programs

Ford's 'basket-weaving' jab sparks debate on degree utility. While STEM fields boast 85-95 percent employment rates within six months (per federal data), humanities grads (around 80 percent) excel in transferable skills like communication and analysis, feeding sectors like law, business, and policy. Enrollment trends show STEM surging—40 percent of Ontario undergrads versus 20 percent humanities—driven by demand.

Yet, broad education fosters innovation; studies from the Council of Ontario Universities link liberal arts to entrepreneurship. The policy nudges alignment: new funding ties grants to labour-aligned programs, potentially shrinking low-enrollment offerings.

🚀 Seizing Opportunities in Ontario's Job Market

Ontario's labour shortages offer bright spots. Health care projects 100,000 openings yearly; trades like welding and plumbing see 90 percent placement. STEM roles in AI, biotech thrive in Toronto-Waterloo corridors.

• Health: Nursing, PSW programs with near-guaranteed jobs.
• Trades: Electrician apprenticeships via colleges.
• Tech: Computer science grads average $70,000 starting salaries.

Job hunters can explore higher ed jobs, clinical research jobs, or university jobs. Check professor reviews on Rate My Professor before enrolling.

Photo by Erik Esly on Unsplash

💡 Actionable Steps for Prospective Students

1. Research programs via labour market tools like Ontario's site.
2. Apply for scholarships at scholarships.
3. Build resumes with free resume templates.
4. Seek career advice from higher ed career advice.

Share your thoughts in the comments—your experiences shape the conversation. For roles, visit higher-ed-jobs or post openings at recruitment.