Colleges Ontario's 2026 pre-budget submission
Categories: Budget submissions
Ontario’s public colleges are central to the Protect Ontario plan, supplying more than half of the workers in sectors facing acute labour shortages. By 2035, the province will require one million new college graduates in the skilled trades, health care, energy, mining and advanced manufacturing. Colleges drive local economies, with a single small or mid-sized rural campus generating about $500 million annually, supporting 5,000 jobs and graduating 1,000 learners each year.
Despite this impact, the college system faces severe financial strain. A projected deficit of up to $1.5 billion by 2027-28, combined with frozen tuition and declining international enrolment, threatens their stability. With strategic investment, colleges can continue to train job-ready graduates, support employers and strengthen communities across every region of the province.
A stable and well-funded college sector is essential to Ontario’s economic competitiveness and long-term growth.