The Ontario government has invested $64 million to fund 4,122 additional seats at Centennial College, George Brown Polytechnic and Seneca Polytechnic 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 Centennial College, George Brown Polytechnic and Seneca Polytechnic include programs in STEM, health, trades and education, with seats available for student enrollment as early as the fall 2026 academic year.
"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."
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.
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 506 newly funded seats at Centennial College include:
- 223 seats for health programs
- 112 seats for STEM programs
- 108 seats for trades programs
- 28 seats for education programs
- 35 seats in other labour-market driven programs
The 1,454 newly funded seats at George Brown Polytechnic include:
- 1,054 seats for health programs
- 212 seats for education programs
- 169 seats for trades programs
- 19 seats for STEM programs
The 2,162 newly funded seats at Seneca Polytechnic include:
- 1,413 seats for health programs
- 422 seats for STEM programs
- 188 seats for education programs
- 139 seats for trades programs
"Every one of these 40,000 new seats represents a person who'll have the opportunity to arrive in a classroom and graduate ready to start a career that matters - to them, to their family, and to communities across Ontario," said Dr. Craig Stephenson, President and CEO, Centennial College. "Colleges like Centennial exist for exactly this moment, to educate students for career success where labour market need meets student ambition. We're proud to be part of delivering on this commitment."
"I was pleased to join Minister Quinn for this announcement and to see this important investment in Ontario's students and future workforce," said Dr. Gervan Fearon, President, George Brown Polytechnic. "Expanding access to programs in high-demand fields will open more doors for learners while helping employers address critical skills needs. At George Brown Polytechnic, we look forward to working with government, industry and our partners to turn this investment into meaningful opportunities and benefits for students and communities as well as to support employment and the entire economy across Ontario."
"The Government of Ontario's investment means 40,000 more highly skilled workers in the province, 40,000 more graduates in high-demand, high-need occupations, 40,000 more people heading to great jobs in health care, advanced manufacturing, information technology and more," said David Agnew, President, Seneca Polytechnic. "We thank Minister Quinn for his strong support of the sector and career-focused polytechnic education. It's a big and positive step forward for students and employers throughout Ontario and comes at a time when we all need to be focused on building an even more resilient economy. Together, we will keep Ontario and Canada strong."
This expansion at Centennial College, George Brown Polytechnic and Seneca Polytechnic will ensure students in the Greater Toronto Area 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
"At the Ontario Chamber, we hear every day from businesses facing skills shortages. Strengthening Ontario's talent pipeline is critical to our competitiveness and today's investment will help ensure employers can find the skilled workers they need to grow."
- Daniel Tisch, President and CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce
"Under the leadership of Premier Doug Ford, our government is making historic investments to ensure Ontario students have every opportunity to succeed. By expanding access to postsecondary education, we are connecting more people to the skills and credentials needed for rewarding, in-demand careers. This investment will help build the highly skilled workforce that drives economic growth and keeps Ontario competitive in an increasingly challenging global economy."
- Michelle Cooper, MPP for Eglinton-Lawrence
"This investment means more students in our community can study closer to home and build the skills they need for the future. Our government is preparing students for in-demand careers across Ontario while continuing to build the skilled workforce our province relies on."
- Laura Smith, MPP for Thornhill
"Scarborough North students will have more opportunities to study in high-demand fields with the new seats allocated to three Toronto postsecondary institutions. These new seats will help develop our highly skilled, world-class workforce, strengthen key industries and businesses, and advance our government's commitment to Protect Ontario."
- Dr. Raymond Cho, MPP for Scarborough North
"Students are the future of our province, and through our government investments, we are ensuring that postsecondary institutions are able to fund additional seats to allow Ontario students to grow. This expansion into GTA's postsecondary pool is a great opportunity for our community's youth to grow intellectually in various fields that will contribute to our highly skilled workforce."
- Vijay Thanigasalam, MPP for Scarborough-Rouge Park
"This investment of 40,000 new seats in the postsecondary sector couldn't have come at a better time as Ontario faces economic challenges due to the U.S. tariffs and ongoing trade war. Therefore, having an increase in talents right here in Ontario to boost in-demand sectors and programs is critical for the times we are in as it will help alleviate future economic pressures and workforce shortages while ensuring students across the province can have rewarding, in-demand careers to help strengthen Ontario to become a more competitive and self-reliant economy. Grateful to the Hon Minister, Nolan Quinn for this great initiative."
- David Smith, MPP for Scarborough
"Amid global economic uncertainty, our government is supporting our next generation of highly skilled workers, trained right at our colleges. This critical announcement of more than 4,100 new seats in the GTA for in demand careers will ensure Ontario students get the education they deserve and build a world class workforce that will strengthen and protect our province."
- Aris Babikian, MPP for Scarborough-Agincourt
"As part of government's $1.7 billion investment to fund more than 70,000 additional postsecondary seats, we are investing $64 million to support 4,122 additional seats at Centennial College, George Brown Polytechnic and Seneca Polytechnic. This investment will help more students in York South-Weston and across the GTA prepare for good-paying, in-demand careers while building the skilled workforce we need to protect Ontario and grow our economy."
- Mohamed Firin, MPP for York South-Weston
Additional Resources
- Ontario Investing $6.4 Billion to Support Postsecondary Sector's Long-Term Success and Sustainability
- Ontario Investing $1.7 Billion to Prepare More Students for In-Demand Careers
- Ontario Investing $57 Million to Support Indigenous Postsecondary Institutes' Long-Term Success and Sustainability
- Learn about colleges, universities and Indigenous Institutes in Ontario
