Ontario Funding More Than 2,800 More Seats in Durham to Prepare Students for In-Demand Careers

Province’s $1.7 billion investment funding more than 70,000 additional seats in STEM, health care, education and trades

News September 17, 2026

TORONTO — The Ontario government has invested $79 million to fund 2,861 additional seats at Ontario Tech and Durham College to connect more students to good-paying, in-demand careers. This allocation, which is part of a broader $1.7 billion investment to support a total of 70,000 new seats, supports the province’s plan to protect Ontario and build a more competitive economy by continuing to develop a world-class workforce. The high-demand areas that are receiving additional seats at Ontario Tech and Durham College include programs in health care, STEM, trades and education, with seats available for student enrollment as early as the fall 2026 academic year.

“Amid global economic uncertainty, our government is taking decisive action to strengthen and protect Ontario’s pipeline of highly-skilled workers,” said Lorne Coe, MPP for Whitby and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “This seat expansion will ensure that more students can get the world-class education they need to launch good-paying careers while driving Whitby’s and Ontario’s economic growth for generations to come.”

This investment is part of the government’s historic $6.4 billion investment in the postsecondary sector, which includes $1.7 billion to fund a total of more than 70,000 additional postsecondary seats in high-demand sectors at publicly assisted colleges and universities. This seat expansion is the largest postsecondary seat expansion in more than a decade and is aimed at helping the province stand up to tariffs and economic uncertainty by building a highly skilled workforce to support the most competitive economy in the G7.

“Our province’s greatest strength is our highly skilled workforce – and those workers are trained at our world-class colleges and universities,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “This investment is supporting the largest seat expansion in Ontario in more than a decade and will ensure more students have the opportunity to train for good-paying careers that protect and strengthen our communities, industries and province.”

The allocation of the first 30,000 seats was announced in May 2026, at which time a call for proposals was launched for the remaining 40,000 new seats. Colleges and universities worked with their local communities and industries to identify programs that will prepare students for in-demand jobs and meet regional labour market needs. Ontario evaluated proposals based on institutional capacity, local industry needs and student demand to ensure the greatest impact on workforce development and economic growth.

The 2,523 newly funded seats at Ontario Tech include:

1,021 seats for STEM programs
436 seats for health programs
272 seats for education programs
794 seats in other, labour-market driven programs

The 338 newly funded seats at Durham College include:

151 seats for trades programs
132 seats for STEM programs
55 seats for health programs

“Ontario’s economic strength depends on having the highly skilled talent to lead in the industries shaping our future,” said Dr. Steven Murphy, President and Vice-Chancellor, Ontario Tech University. “By expanding access to programs in high-demand fields, the Government of Ontario is creating more opportunities for students while strengthening the workforce our communities and employers need. Ontario Tech is proud to support this vision through our distinctive strengths in engineering, nuclear energy, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, advanced transportation and health care. We thank Premier Ford, Minister Quinn and the Government of Ontario for this important investment in students and in the province’s long-term competitiveness.”

“We welcome the Ontario government’s continued investment in postsecondary education and workforce development,” said Dr. Elaine Popp, President, Durham College. “Expanding capacity in high-demand programs will create more opportunities for students while helping employers access the skilled talent they need to grow. At Durham College, we are proud to prepare graduates for careers in critical sectors such as skilled trades, health care, STEM and emerging industries, supporting the long-term success of our communities, economy and workforce.”

This expansion at Ontario Tech and Durham College will ensure students in Toronto can access the education they need to launch rewarding, in-demand careers, while ensuring Ontario’s world-class institutions can continue producing one of the most competitive workforces in the G7 for generations to come.

Quick Facts

Through the call for proposals, publicly assisted colleges and universities submitted a Priority Growth Plan to the government that reflects their school’s strengths, regional economic trends, local labour market needs, and student demand.
The ministry received over 1,000 letters of support from employers who endorse the expansion of seats across in-demand programs at their local institution.
Programs in STEM, health care, trades and education produce graduates who have higher rates of employment in related fields, earn higher wages and drive key sectors of the economy.
Through Budget 2025, Ontario invested nearly a billion dollars into publicly assisted colleges and universities to fund over 100,000 more seats in programs that produce graduates to meet Ontario’s labour market demands such as teaching, nursing, STEM, and skilled trades.
Ontario’s new $6.4 billion funding model will raise annual operating funding at colleges, universities, and Indigenous Institutes to $7 billion, a 30 per cent increase and the highest level in the province’s history.
As part of its $6.4 billion new funding model, Ontario is also investing a historic $57 million into Indigenous Institutes, including $33 million to expand up to 780 seats for in-demand programs.

Quotes

“During life’s most challenging moments, residents need to know help will be there when they call. This increase to our provincial Land Ambulance Service Grant funding and Dedicated Offload Nurses Program recognizes the growing needs of our communities. Thank you to the province for continued investment that will help improve response capacity and strengthen emergency care across Durham Region.”

– John Henry, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer for The Regional Municipality of Durham

“This continued funding helps strengthen our ability to serve residents, supports the sustainability of our operations and ensures our teams are equipped to meet the evolving needs of our communities. Region of Durham Paramedic Services extends its sincere gratitude to the province for its continued partnership and investment.”

– Troy Cheseboro, Chief, Region of Durham Paramedic Services

“Region of Durham Paramedic Services responds to thousands of emergency calls every year. In those moments, every second counts. This increased investment will help paramedics reach emergencies more quickly and return to the community sooner so they are ready to respond when the next call comes in. We thank the province for helping ensure emergency care remains accessible, reliable and responsive for residents across Durham Region.”

– Mayor Elizabeth Roy, Chair of the Health and Social Services Committee

“This investment will help Durham Region’s paramedics get back on the road sooner and respond more quickly when residents need them most. By strengthening land ambulance services and supporting dedicated offload staff in our hospitals, the province is helping improve emergency care across our growing community.”
– Kevin Ashe, Mayor of Pickering

Additional Resources

Media Contact

Bianca Giacoboni
Minister’s Office
Bianca.Giacoboni@ontario.ca

Media Relations
Communications Branch
Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security
MCURES.media@ontario.ca