Ontario Government Announces Plans to Introduce Legislation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TORONTO — November 12, 2026 —Today, the Ontario government announced plans to introduce legislation on November 16 to strengthen oversight of private postsecondary institutions participating in OSAP.
CCO supports measures that strengthen accountability and protect OSAP’s integrity. However, today’s announcement does not address the immediate impact of the funding pause on students attending compliant institutions, nor does it provide a clear timeline for restoring OSAP access or releasing outstanding student funding.
Innocent students continue to bear the consequences of the sector-wide pause, and we continue to call on the government to reinstate OSAP for students attending compliant institutions.
What the Government Announced
If passed, the proposed legislation would:
- Cap OSAP-funded enrolment growth at private institutions.
- Make predominantly online programs at private postsecondary institutions ineligible for OSAP and require career colleges to maintain a physical campus.
- Restrict certain relationships between career colleges and third-party businesses.
- Give the province additional authority to recover OSAP funding from institutions in certain circumstances.
- Strengthen requirements for verifying student eligibility, attendance and completion of coursework.
- Introduce monetary penalties for violations of the Ontario Career Colleges Act, 2005 and increase transparency around enforcement actions.
The government’s full announcement is available here.
What Happens Next
The government intends to introduce the legislation on Monday, November 16, with proposed regulations expected to follow in the coming months.
CCO remains actively engaged with the Minister’s Office and senior government officials on these changes and the ongoing OSAP funding pause. Our immediate priority remains advocating for the restoration of OSAP funding for eligible students attending compliant institutions, including releasing outstanding 2025–26 payments.
Once the legislation is introduced, CCO will undertake a detailed review of the proposed changes and provide members with a further update. CCO will also be participating in the regulatory consultation process to ensure the perspectives of our members and their students are represented.
We recognize the uncertainty facing members and their students. CCO will continue to advocate directly with government to seek clarity on outstanding funding, the process for restoring OSAP access, and how the proposed reforms will be implemented. We will also continue our active advertising campaign to keep these issues front of mind for key decision-makers.
About Career Colleges Ontario
Career Colleges Ontario represents approximately 280 registered career college campuses operating in more than 90 communities across Ontario. Career colleges serve many non-traditional learners, including mature students, parents, newcomers, and working adults seeking flexible, employment-focused training pathways aligned with labour market needs.
Media Contact:
Taylor Buck
Email: taylorbuck@careercollegesontario.ca
