Ontario faculty call for long-term planning on university seat allocations

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Toronto, Sept. 10, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations welcomed today’s provision of newly funded postsecondary seats and called on the government to recognize that all university programs produce graduates with skills needed for Ontario’s diverse economy. 

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To secure additional funding for the new 40,000 seats, universities and colleges were required to submit to a competitive, Ministry-run application process for seats this year. This process was centralized by the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security even though universities already work closely with local employers, including businesses, public institutions, and non-profit organizations, to support program development and student employment prospects.

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“This new application system is another example of this government trying to take over established, independent processes at our universities to advance a policy and economic agenda,” said OCUFA President Rob Kristofferson. “We want universities to have the resources they need in the long term so they can prepare students for the economy of the future. The government should not only be concerned for students’ success in the workforce during their election cycle, but for future generations of Ontarians as well.”

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OCUFA has long called for the government to fund more student seats at universities across all programs to build a diverse and strong economy. According to OCUFA research, a university education in all fields provides transferrable skills that can withstand labour market challenges and help workers find jobs across different areas of the economy. This flexibility is even more important during times of economic anxiety and turmoil.

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“We know that we will need university graduates with skills in many areas to support Ontario’s diverse economy in the decades to come, which includes not only the STEM, healthcare, and education positions prioritized by the government, but also the arts and humanities fields that are integral to all industries with skills that have been highlighted by employers in the age of artificial intelligence,” said OCUFA Executive Director Jenny Ahn. “This year saw the highest-ever first-year enrolment in Ontario universities, which tells us that Ontarians understand the value of a university education. With that reality in mind, the government should be working with universities to support all programs now and for an uncertain future.”

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Even with this year’s new funding from the government, Ontario continues to sit in last place in the nation when it comes to per-domestic student funding. In 2023-24, the most recent year for which there is comprehensive data, Ontario provided $10,481 in total university funding per domestic full-time equivalent student, less than half of the $22,990 average seen in the rest of Canada. It would take an additional $5.4 billion annually of government investment for just universities to reach the rest-of-Canada average. The $6.4 billion in revenue announced this year is allotted over four years and shared with colleges, leaving universities far behind this goal.

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Founded in 1964, OCUFA represents more than 18,000 faculty, academic librarians, and other academic professionals in 30 member organizations across Ontario. It is committed to enhancing the quality of higher education in Ontario and recognizing the outstanding contributions of its members towards creating a world-class university system. For more information, please visit the OCUFA website at www.ocufa.on.ca.  

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