Learn more about the recent review via Global News : Ontario weighing changes to formula that funds colleges, universities #OntarioPSE #PostSecondaryFunding #HigherEd

OCUFA is calling on the government to engage those who know the system best. Ontario’s economic future depends on strong, high-quality post-secondary education for all students.

A review can highlight gaps, but it cannot replace the need for stable, long-term funding that supports students, faculty and staff.

Ontario’s post-secondary institutions have already had to make difficult adjustments including $1.8 billion in budget reductions, 600 programs suspended and 8,000 jobs eliminated in order to balance their budgets.

The Ontario government is reviewing how public universities and colleges are funded.

Image of a Toronto Star opinion piece on a tablet. The title of the article is: opinion - federal budget creates a massive educational opportunity for Doug Ford. A pulled quote at the top of the image reads: The premier has a golden political opportunity to swoop in to save Ontario’s universities by restoring adequate public funding for post-secondary institutions. But more importantly, the premier has an opportunity to leave a lasting, meaningful legacy for Ontario’s young people and the province’s future prosperity. Diane Orihel, Associate Professor at Queen's University

Ontario’s universities have the lowest per-student funding of any province in Canada. The provincial government can address this embarrassing gap by funding our universities at $11.75 for the next 5 years.

Read the full article: www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...

A university education is associated with high-paying and in-demand jobs in every region of Ontario. The provincial government’s own labour market information indicates that of the occupation categories with the most annual job postings the most lucrative jobs go to university graduates. (4/6)

With demand for university spaces set to surge, the province cannot afford to continue ignoring the voices of those who know the system best. (3/6)

Ontario’s public universities are facing a growing funding crisis driven by chronic underfunding, tuition cuts and freezes, rising responsibilities without support, and an unsustainable reliance on international students. (2/6)

Ontario’s economic future depends on world-class universities. We need adequate, sustained investment, not stop-gap funding and temporary fixes, to secure the future of our youth.

#OntarioPSE #PostSecondaryFunding #HigherEd

OCUFA is calling on the government to reconsider their decision, engage students and faculty, and commit to real solutions, including transparent updates to the funding formula and immediate increases to per-student funding.

A university education leads to high-paying, in-demand jobs across Ontario. Provincial labour market data shows that among the occupations with the most annual postings, the most lucrative roles consistently go to university graduates in every region.

With demand for university spaces set to surge, the province cannot afford to continue ignoring the voices of those who know the system best.

Ontario’s public universities are facing a growing funding crisis driven by chronic underfunding, tuition cuts and freezes, rising responsibilities without support, and an unsustainable reliance on international students.

Ontario’s university funding review is nearly complete, yet faculty and students, the people at the heart of our institutions, were excluded from consultations.

ocufa.on.ca/briefs-and-s...

(4/4) OCUFA is proud to stand in solidarity with LUFA and will seek intervenor status in this Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms challenge. ✊

@ctvnorthernontario.bsky.social @sudburystar.bsky.social

(3/4) The loan agreement—in place until 2038—explicitly limits the union’s ability to bargain the terms of their pension plan. This is not just a labour dispute, but a constitutional issue related to bargaining autonomy.

(2/4) When Laurentian filed for insolvency under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) in 2021, a contract was imposed on faculty. That contract required enormous sacrifices including salary cuts, changes to the pension plan and job losses.

Teal background with a white quote symbol at the top, followed by the words in white, bold text: "The Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations and the Canadian Association of University Teachers are both supporting LUFA and will seek intervenor status in this charter challenge." Below the text is an iPhone displaying the CTV News article: Faculty union at Laurentian to make a human rights challenge over pension plan bargaining by Darren MacDonald. Published November 17, 2025 at 12:45PM EST.

Teal background with a white quote symbol at the top, followed by the words in white, bold text: "Bargaining belongs to us: not the government, not the courts." Below that in smaller white text the quote is attributed to: "Fabrice Colin, President of the Laurentian University Faculty Association." Taking up the bottom two thirds of the frame, a tablet displays the Sudbury Star article: Laurentian union launches constitutional challenge as contract talks begin by Harold Carmichael. Published November 17, 2025.

(1/4) The Government of Ontario has been interfering systemically and structurally with the Laurentian University Faculty Association’s free and fair collective bargaining rights.

@deepakanand.bsky.social @peggysattlerndp.bsky.social @tylerwatt.bsky.social @johnfraseros.bsky.social @jessicabellto.bsky.social @maritstilesndp.bsky.social @marymargaretbey.bsky.social @mikeschreiner.bsky.social @kristynwongtam.bsky.social

(11/11) MPPs acknowledge Ontario public universities require additional funding, but there is still much work to be done to secure the future of our province and Ontario’s next generation of voters.

#OntarioPSE #PostSecondaryFunding #HigherEd

(10/11) MCURES is increasingly interfering with university autonomy. The growing use of ministerial directives is an end-run around parliamentary democracy, which creates inefficiencies detracting from a focus on education. These are not cost neutral activities.

(9/11) Meaningfully cutting red tape in the university sector by eliminating unnecessary policy duplication, such as that found in Bills 33 and 166, and by respecting institutional autonomy.

(8/11) The development of a university funding model that supports and incentivizes enrolling larger numbers of academically qualified Ontario students and recognizes the value of all university programs.

(7/11) A phased approach consisting of annual 11.75% increases to provincial university funding over a period of five years to get Ontario close to the Canadian funding average.

(6/11) Throughout Advocacy Day, faculty and academic librarians at Queen’s Park spoke to MPPs from all parties and across Ontario. In the meetings, OCUFA reiterated its recommendations, including:

(5/11) According to the Council of Ontario Universities, without public funding, potentially 100,000 academically qualified prospective Ontario university students will be unable to secure a university seat. This is alarming.

(4/11) Enrollment is booming, but the number of funded students is arbitrarily limited. In 2024-25, 28,000 students were enrolled above this funded cap. New enrollment growth in 2025-26 means this number will have only increased.

(3/11) Every $1 invested in university education generates a positive economic return of $1.36–nearly 40% return on investment!

Despite all university programs providing skills employers need, only a narrow range of programs receive additional financial support from government.

(2/11) Ontario’s economy is under threat from American tariffs and automation-induced job losses. Per @confboardofcanada.bsky.social, public universities contribute 11.7% of Ontario's GDP, which is $96 billion annually.