Ontario funds 2,946 new college and university seats across Northeast Ontario

Ontario is putting $60 million toward 2,946 new post-secondary seats across Northeast Ontario, with some available as early as the fall 2026 academic year.

The seats go to eight institutions: Algoma University, Nipissing University, Collège Boréal, Sault College, Northern College, Canadore College, Cambrian College and Université de Hearst. Nipissing University receives the largest share, 1,113 seats, including 687 in education and 281 in health. Algoma University gets 432 seats, 386 of them in health and 46 in STEM. Collège Boréal receives 334 seats, with 163 in health, 121 in education and 34 in STEM.

The province says the seats are aimed at programs in high-demand areas: STEM, health, education and trades. Lorne Coe, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security, said the expansion would ensure more students can train for good-paying careers. Minister Nolan Quinn called it the largest seat expansion in Ontario in more than a decade.

The Northeast allocation is part of a broader $1.7 billion investment to fund more than 70,000 new postsecondary seats across the province. The first 30,000 seats were allocated in May 2026, and a call for proposals for the remaining 40,000 launched the same month. Selection criteria include institutional capacity, local industry needs and student demand.

HighOnCity reported in September on the province's $1.7 billion plan to add 40,000 post-secondary seats.