Ontario Extends OSAP Pause for Career Colleges Until at Least the New Year
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Students face financial instability and academic uncertainty as the province delays funding to establish new approval processes.
Colleges and Universities Minister Nolan Quinn has announced that a provincewide pause on Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) payments to career colleges will remain in effect until at least the new year, according to reporting from CityNews Toronto and CBC Toronto.
Minister Quinn enacted the freeze following preliminary audit findings that raised serious concerns regarding OSAP usage at career colleges. The Minister stated the pause is necessary to protect taxpayers from abuse and restore system integrity, though he acknowledged the resulting impact on families. The government is currently working to secure third-party bank loans for students and develop a new approval process for private post-secondary institutions.
The delay has created significant hardship for students. Scott Daley, a massage therapy student at CTS Canadian Career College in Barrie, told CityNews Toronto he has struggled to afford groceries and has lost sleep over the situation. Deanna Hutten, a master's student in McMaster Divinity College’s counselling and spiritual care program, reported she is working more hours and reducing her course load to stay in school.
Further instability has hit Trillium College, which suspended classes at its campuses due to the funding uncertainty. Students there, including law clerk student Jennifer Koster and community developmental service worker student Marina Whitehead, expressed fear that they will not graduate in February. Koster, who receives the Ontario Disability Support Program, noted that the school's proposed monthly payment plans of approximately $1,500 are unaffordable without OSAP.
Industry association Career Colleges Ontario and various students have urged the government to adopt a targeted approach to remove "bad actors" rather than a sweeping pause. In response, students are organizing protests in North Bay and St. Catharines.