Ontario weighing changes to formula that funds colleges, universities
As Ontario’s public colleges continue to struggle with massively reduced revenue from international students, the Ford government says it is taking a detailed look at how it funds post-secondary education.
The province’s public colleges and universities have endured two years of cuts and layoffs since a federal cap on the number of international students was introduced and then tightened.
Shortly after the Progressive Conservatives won the 2018 election, they cut college tuition by 10 per cent and then froze it, with public colleges relying increasingly on international students to make up the shortfall.
Before the cap came into place, Ontario colleges were drawing an average of roughly 30 per cent of their revenue from international students.
Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security Nolan Quinn recently confirmed that the freeze would stay in place until at least the end of the 2026-27 academic year.
Pressed repeatedly at a committee meeting, Quinn would not say whether he would raise fees the year after his committed cap ends.
The NDP’s critic for colleges, universities, research excellence and security, Peggy Sattler, said the lack of long-running commitment was a concern.
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“When I asked about possible tuition hikes, he refused to rule them out,” she said in a statement.
“That is deeply concerning. Ontario already provides the lowest per-student funding in Canada, and instead of taking responsibility to fix that, this government seems prepared to shift more costs onto students.”
Quinn promised, however, it was not business as usual for the post-secondary sector, saying he is in the midst of a potentially major review of the funding formula for publicly assisted colleges and universities.
“We’ve been meeting all summer with our stakeholders — through the 47 publicly assisted colleges and universities, understanding where the costs have changed,” Quinn said at a recent news conference.
Quinn added that a key area of reviews would be “weighted grant units,” an area of the formula he said represents the “funding given toward a specific program.” He said changes to that part of the formula would be major.
“It’s been over a decade since we’ve really looked at our funding formula review, and we’re looking at all aspects of it and understanding the costs have changed,” he said.
Those in the sector say a major change can’t come soon enough.
In a recent statement, Colleges Ontario said its members had already cut $1.8 billion, suspended 600 programs and shed 8,000 jobs.
“This further destabilizes colleges in Ontario and the communities they serve, underscoring the urgent need for Ontario to complete its funding formula review and respond to federal policies,” the organization wrote.
Meanwhile, the Council of Ontario’s Universities said its members were projecting $265 million in deficits for the current year and called for a number of funding increases.
“Ensuring the financial sustainability of Ontario’s universities is critical to the province’s economic competitiveness and prosperity,” the council wrote in a recent statement.
“By increasing operating funding – alongside universities’ continued commitment to increased efficiencies – we can ensure Ontario is prepared not only to weather economic uncertainty but to lead in the industries that will define its future prosperity.”
© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
The weather outside might be frightful but, depending where they live, some Ontario residents may soon get a reprieve from the snow — though only some.
Snow warnings are in effect for several parts of central and southern Ontario, with Environment Canada using its new alert system to issue yellow warnings for snowfall.
The new system now adds a colour to each weather alert — yellow, orange and red — to show the seriousness. Yellow alerts are issued when hazardous weather may cause damage or disruption, or impact health. These weather events are likely moderate, localized, and/or short term.
Current yellow warnings stretch south to cities such as London, Kitchener and Guelph, west to Manitoulin Island and north to Huntsville and Cedar Lake.
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Parts of the Greater Toronto Area are also under warnings including Peterborough, Markham, Milton and Vaughan.
These areas are forecast to see additional snowfall on Sunday, though the amounts vary. Places such as Cobourg and London expected to see two to five centimetres, while other areas, such as Kitchener and Manitoulin Island, are forecast to recieve five to 10 centimetre.
Environment Canada says the snow is expected to transition to flurries in most areas, and will likely to change to rain showers midday in several communities.
There are also several special weather statements in effect for some cities, with some, including Sault Ste Marie and West Nippissing-French River, expected to see between five and 10 additional centimetres of snow into the evening.
Those facing the snow are urged to make additional time for travel. Snow buildup will make roads and walkways difficult to navigate and visibility will be reduced.
Other cities, such as Niagara Falls, Kingston and the majority of the Golden Horseshoe, including Toronto and Hamilton, are under a special weather statement for strong winds.
Those winds are expected to begin later this morning, with strong southwesterly gusts that could hit 60 to 70 km/h. The winds will ease in the evening, but Environment Canada cautions that local utility outages are possible.
© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Toronto Fire crews remained on scene Saturday afternoon as a complex highrise fire at Thorncliffe Park Dr. and Overlea Blvd. continued to burn behind walls, with officials still unable to give residents a timeline for when they can go home.
Toronto Fire said they have made “positive” progress, but the blaze remains extremely difficult to access.
Acting Division Commander Robert Houston said firefighters have been “actively fighting a stubborn fire” for more than 48 hours and that early in the response they discovered “high levels of carbon monoxide throughout the building.”
All 408 units across the two towers were evacuated. No injuries have been reported.
The Red Cross is providing emergency assistance, delivering accommodations and food for 117 households and 239 people as of Saturday morning.
Officials said residents were moved from an initial hub into hotels.
One of those displaced is single mother Mohamee Muhammad, now staying with her daughter at a hotel in the Don Valley.
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They have been provided a card to buy meals but only have guaranteed accommodation until Dec. 2.
“You have to take it one day at a time,” Muhammad told Global News.
Her daughter Aisha learned about the fire from her school principal.
“I just hope we can go home back soon,” she said, adding the experience is deeply disruptive. “I wasn’t expecting this. I just thought it would be a normal day until I got the call.” She was permitted to briefly enter to retrieve her school supplies.
Another resident, Nihal Sheikh, said his wife called him while he was at work to say the building was being evacuated. They have a two-month-old and two other young children.
“Things happened suddenly,” he said. “It was so chaotic.”
He said responders escorted him upstairs to retrieve medications and diapers. “We don’t know what’s going on… we are just getting updates from fire department and police.”
Houston said temperatures and carbon monoxide levels have “successfully lowered,” but crews still “do not have eyes on the fire… just behind walls,” relying instead on heat readings and air monitoring.
He confirmed “there is no timeline” for when residents can return. “We just can’t see. We’re in the middle of trying to mitigate the situation.”
Earlier on Friday, Fire Chief Jim Jessop said the blaze is being fuelled by insulation burning “slowly” between the walls of both towers, creating “high levels of carbon monoxide” due to “incomplete combustion.” Crews had recorded readings of 850 parts per million, a life-threatening level.
Jessop said he expects it to be a “prolonged event,” with no estimate on when it will be brought under control. Once it is, it will still take firefighters another 24 hours to ensure there are no flare-ups.
Crews were first called around 1:30 p.m. Thursday to reports of “light smoke” on multiple floors at 11 Thorncliffe Park Dr., before the fire spread into the adjacent building at 21 Overlea Blvd.
City officials thanked emergency responders and urged any remaining displaced residents to contact the Red Cross, saying, “The most important thing is that everybody in this community is safe.”
– With files from Gabby Rodriguez
© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
Broccoli florets sold under the Your Fresh Market brand are being recalled across several provinces due to possible Salmonella contamination, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency says.
The CFIA issued the recall Friday for packaged broccoli florets distributed in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
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Consumers are urged to check their refrigerators and dispose of the product or return it to the place of purchase. The agency says the product should not be eaten, sold, served or distributed.
Food contaminated with Salmonella may look and smell normal but can still cause illness.
Symptoms can include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Young children, pregnant women, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for severe illness.
The CFIA says anyone who believes they became sick after eating the product should contact a health-care provider.
© 2025 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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