Public college education is being decimated in Ontario.
The province’s 24 colleges face an unprecedented funding crisis in the aftermath of federal cuts to international education.
Essential programs throughout the province are being eliminated as colleges grapple with hundreds of millions in lost revenue. And there are more cuts to come.
Some of what led to this crisis is well-known.
As part of its effort to rein in immigration levels, Ottawa has reduced by almost 50% the number of permits being issued to international students looking to study in Ontario.
That’s led to over $750 million in reduced operating spending at colleges this year and a projected $1-billion in annual lost revenue by next year. As well, it’s expected there will be a $3-billion loss to provincial coffers over three years.
It’s important to understand how colleges became so dependent on the revenue from international tuition.
It’s because the Ontario government has been underfunding college education for over 15 years. In fact, colleges currently lose money for each domestic student enrolled in their programs.
In addition to the shortfall in provincial grants, the Doug Ford government added to the problem by forcing colleges to cut tuition by 10% in 2019. The government has kept tuition frozen at that reduced level, with no offsetting funding from the province.
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Colleges now have no choice but to eliminate quality programs that prepare students for key sectors, including construction, biotechnology, auto manufacturing, tourism and much more.
Cuts to programs and staff are occurring throughout the province.
Centennial College in Toronto has suspended 49 full-time programs, while Seneca College has temporarily closed its campus in Markham.
Sheridan College in Oakville has suspended 40 programs. Mohawk College in Hamilton has suspended 16 programs and is laying off over 200 employees.
St. Lawrence College in Kingston has suspended about 40% of its programs, while Loyalist College in Belleville is suspending about 30% of its programs. Fleming College in Peterborough suspended 29 programs last year.
Algonquin College will be closing its campus in Perth. Fanshawe College in London is cutting 18 winter semester programs and Northern College in Timmins is cutting staff.
There couldn’t be a worse time for these cuts to college programs and staff.
With Canada confronting U.S. President Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs, Ontario needs to boost productivity and promote economic growth. That means Ontario must produce greater numbers of highly qualified people for every sector.
Yet, Ontario is doing the exact opposite, significantly reducing the opportunities for students to acquire the qualifications and expertise to fill those positions.
The government knows there is an unsustainable funding crisis at the colleges.
A provincially appointed expert panel called last year for Ontario to boost funding to colleges and universities by over $2 billion and to allow colleges and universities to increase tuition.
The province responded with $1.3 billion in funding — welcome support, but barely half of what the panel recommended.
And that was before Ottawa announced the enormous cuts to international enrollment.
Ontario can’t allow this funding crisis to continue. Candidates campaigning in this year’s provincial election must commit to providing proper funding for college education and to end the cut to college tuition.
More than ever, students need greater access to high-quality programs that will equip them to pursue rewarding careers and will bolster Ontario’s economy.
— Rob Savage retired last year as the vice-president of communications at Colleges Ontario, the association for the 24 public colleges.