Colleges Ontario is the advocacy voice for the province's 24 colleges.

Ontario’s colleges support the provincial government’s plan to protect Ontario and strengthen the province’s resilience and workforce, as outlined in today’s budget. Colleges Ontario is encouraged by targeted investments in construction-related skilled trades training and support for small, rural and northern colleges — two key priorities in our 2025 pre-budget submission.

Dennis A. Darby, president and CEO of the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters; Maureen Adamson, interim president and CEO of Colleges Ontario; and Steve Orsini, president and CEO of the Council of Ontario's Universities, have co-signed an open letter. The letter highlights the importance of ensuring Ontario has the next generation of workers to protect the manufacturing critical industry and secure Ontario’s jobs.

Ontario colleges welcome the commitment to strengthen STEM education and are encouraged by this investment. Colleges Ontario also recognizes that there are many applied programs in the college sector that are not included in the current definition of STEM programming, but are equally essential to our workforce, economy and our future. 

In a letter to Premier Ford, signed by all 24 presidents of Ontario’s public colleges, the sector expressed how they can support the government's “Protect Ontario” agenda.