Ontario universities say they are running short of spots for the province鈥檚 students, with 80,000 more needed over the next five years alone 鈥 including in some high-demand programs.
And as they urge Premier Doug Ford鈥檚 government to not only fund the spaces, they鈥檙e also asking it to halt a plan that could cut student fees used to support on-campus clubs and services.
In a submission to the province regarding changes under its education Bill 33, the Council of Ontario Universities says the legislation does not address financial challenges schools face and also interferes with their autonomy.
鈥淲hile Ontario鈥檚 universities welcome the provincial government鈥檚 funding for student spaces, including in STEM and teacher education that funded more than 20,000 unfunded student spaces, (the council) estimates that more than 80,000 spaces will need to be funded … in order to meet growing demand鈥 by 2030, says its submission, referring to the more than $800 million in recent funding for science, technology, engineering and math spots, as well as to train educators.
鈥淭he lack of funding is creating significant challenges for students and their parents as many qualified students are unable to enrol in the program of their choice due to limited spaces,鈥 says the submission. 鈥淏ill 33 will not help enrol these students.鈥
But a letter to the council from Colleges and Universities Minister Nolan Quinn, sent Thursday night, said the legislation 鈥渨ill ensure that essential student services remain available, that postsecondary education remains accessible to students from all backgrounds, and that research conducted in Ontario is protected in alignment with federal research security policies 鈥 without unnecessary duplication.鈥
Quinn said 鈥渢here will be extensive consultation on this bill to ensure we are working with the sector on measures the government knows will increase student success and institutions鈥 accountability … as we have made clear, no regulations will be drafted or finalized until consultation with the sector has been completed.鈥
The province has announced more than $2 billion for the post-secondary education sector in the past 14 months, funding more than 90,000 spaces in construction, teaching and nursing, and has promised it will review the overall funding model, which is outdated.
鈥淲hile we acknowledge the concerns raised by Ontario鈥檚 universities, we had hoped for a more open and collaborative approach at this early stage,鈥 Quinn wrote. 鈥淚t is critical that Ontario鈥檚 universities work constructively with the province not only when they are seeking additional funding, but also when the province is pursuing policy changes that support broader collaboration, transparency and accountability that will benefit students.鈥
The universities鈥 council says despite the recent funding, it is much less than a government-appointed panel recommended and that spaces will be tight in programs such as health, teaching and planning, among others.
In addition, ancillary fees 鈥 which can add up to $1,000 per student on top of tuition 鈥 are set on an already 鈥渢ransparent and appropriate mechanism鈥 and any such changes 鈥渨ould erode student services and university infrastructure and operations, negatively impacting students,鈥 including cuts to mental health help or housing supports, their submission says.
The province also wants schools to be more transparent on admissions, and ensure they are based on merit and is looking to review university governance.
That comes as schools south of the border face pressures from President Donald Trump鈥檚 government to end diversity initiatives.
Universities here say they already make public admission grade ranges, required courses, and what application materials are required.
鈥淣o student is admitted to an Ontario university without meeting the academic qualifications for each program,鈥 the submission states. 鈥淗owever, institutions may consider admission information in certain situations to ensure no qualified student is excluded based on unfair barriers.鈥
Quinn said that 鈥渢o be clear, the consultation will include, among other critical items, a thoughtful discussion on how to define 鈥榤erit鈥 in a way that is not overly narrow or rigid and which is reflective of Ontario鈥檚 postsecondary landscape. The intent is not to narrow the definition but rather to provide greater clarity for students and families around the objective criteria being used in admissions.鈥
Shortly after it was first elected, the Ford government in 2019 cut post-secondary tuition by 10 per cent and has frozen rates since.
Schools say they have been squeezed by that, combined with inadequate provincial funding amid inflationary costs. As well, with the loss of international students 鈥 who pay much higher tuition 鈥 because of federal clawbacks, universities and colleges are now cutting programs, campuses and staff to make ends meet.
All that comes as universities have recorded a 17 per cent increase in applications from Ontario students.
The Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations, or OCUFA, has noted the province provides among the lowest per student funding, and that to just get to the national average would mean spending an immediate $2.78 billion.
Recently, the Ontario Universities and Colleges Coalition 鈥 comprising faculty and staff unions, including OCUFA 鈥 warned the proposed bill, expected to pass in the fall, 鈥渞eflects the Ontario government鈥檚 continued problematic efforts to exert increased control鈥 over the sector, and said 鈥渁ll students must still meet rigorous academic requirements for admission 鈥 these particular and few equity initiatives empower (post-secondary) institutions to foster more diverse and inclusive learning environments.鈥
The government will consult on student ancillary fees after a previous try to implement its 鈥渟tudent choice initiative鈥 that was struck down by Ontario鈥檚 divisional court. The court ruled the province overstepped its authority and interfered with the autonomy of post-secondary schools and their student governments by making some fees optional, including food banks, clubs and campus media.