Response to OSAP Funding Announcement

Career Colleges Ontario represents approximately 280 registered career college campuses operating in more than 90 communities across Ontario, many of them located in smaller and rural communities where access to a public college campus may be limited.  

Career colleges primarily serve non-traditional learners, including mature students, parents, newcomers, and shift workers, who rely on flexible, employment-focused training pathways to upgrade skills and enter the workforce. For many students, traditional public college pathways are not accessible due to geography, work schedules, caregiving responsibilities, or the need for more flexible program availability. 

Career colleges provide hands-on, skills-based training that supports entry across in-demand careers in healthcare (including dental), technology, childcare, film and television, music production, and community services.  

In healthcare specifically, this includes the training of personal support workers, medical office administrators, pharmacy assistants, lab technicians, and many other frontline healthcare professionals who play a critical role in supporting Ontario’s health system and long-term care sector. 

Removing access to grants risks creating significant financial barriers for students pursuing practical, career-focused education – particularly for lower-income and non-traditional learners – while also weakening workforce pipelines that employers rely on to fill critical labour shortages. 

While we recognize the government’s objective to ensure student financial assistance programs remain sustainable, and that Ontario is responding to unilateral federal policy changes, these measures cannot come at the cost of student access or the labour market pipeline that Ontario’s economy depends on. 

Career Colleges Ontario will continue to engage with government and advocate for targeted carve-outs for high-demand programs to help maintain the skilled workforce Ontario’s economy and public services require.