Ontario Tech University in Oshawa is set to receive nearly $92 million in new provincial funding as part of a sweeping $6.4 billion investment in Ontario’s post-secondary education sector announced this week.
The $91.9 million investment was announced by the Ontario government as part of a new funding model designed to bring long-term financial sustainability to universities, colleges, and Indigenous Institutes across the province.
Ontario Tech University president Dr. Steven Murphy said the funding will allow the institution to continue preparing students for in-demand careers that meet labour market demands now and into the future.
“This investment means we can continue to deliver the high-quality, market aligned, STEM-focused education that the province needs to fill in-demand sectors,” Murphy said. “Strengthening post-secondary education strengthens the economy, fosters innovation and helps ensure there are highly skilled graduates prepared to bolster Ontario’s economic growth for generations to come.”
What the New Funding Model Means
Under the province’s redesigned approach, operating funding for post-secondary institutions will increase by 30 per cent to $7 billion starting this fall. The new model focuses on delivering programs that align with student demand as well as regional and provincial labour market needs across Ontario.
The new framework also includes specialized targeted funding for small, rural, northern, and French-language institutions, ensuring that students in all corners of the province have access to quality post-secondary education regardless of where they live.
“It is imperative that we continue to train a strong, highly skilled workforce for Ontario for decades to come,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. The minister emphasized the importance of keeping education accessible while keeping costs down for students and their families.
70,000 New Seats Across Ontario
Through the new funding model, the government is investing $1.7 billion specifically to fund 70,000 additional in-demand seats across the province. This investment will expand enrollment in health care, skilled trades, teaching, and STEM programs to build the highly skilled workforce that Ontario businesses and communities depend on.
A call for proposals to access this funding will launch this spring, with new seats expected to open by fall 2026, giving institutions like Ontario Tech the opportunity to expand their program offerings.
Impact on Durham Region
The announcement comes on the heels of a separate $151.5 million annual investment in Durham College, also located in Oshawa. Together, the two investments represent a significant financial boost to Durham Region’s post-secondary education landscape and its ability to train and retain skilled workers locally.
Durham MP Todd McCarthy expressed enthusiasm about what the funding means for the region, noting that world-class innovation can begin right here in Durham.
For Oshawa and the broader Durham Region, the combined investment signals growing recognition of the area as an emerging hub for technology, innovation, and workforce development in Ontario’s eastern Greater Toronto Area corridor.
Ontario Tech University, widely known for its strong engineering, science, and technology programs, is well positioned to leverage the new funding to expand its offerings and attract even more students to its north Oshawa campus in the years ahead.
