Ontario commits $64 million for 4,122 new college seats in GTA to fill labour gaps
Centennial, George Brown and Seneca polytechnics will expand STEM, health, trades and education programs, with seats available as early as fall 2026.
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Ontario is investing $64 million to fund 4,122 additional seats at Centennial College, George Brown Polytechnic and Seneca Polytechnic in the Greater Toronto Area, part of a broader $1.7 billion provincial commitment to add more than 70,000 new postsecondary seats across Ontario.
The new seats focus on high-demand fields: STEM, health care, education and trades. Students can enroll as early as fall 2026.
This allocation represents the largest postsecondary seat expansion in Ontario in more than a decade, according to the province. Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security Nolan Quinn said: "Our province's greatest strength is our highly skilled workforce – and those workers are trained at our world-class colleges and universities. 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."
The expansion is framed as a response to tariffs and economic uncertainty, aiming to build workforce capacity to support a competitive economy within the G7.
The first 30,000 seats were allocated in May 2026. Colleges and universities then submitted proposals for the remaining 40,000 seats, working with local communities and industries to identify programs meeting regional labour-market needs. Ontario evaluated proposals based on institutional capacity, local industry demand and student demand.
Breakdown of the new GTA seats: Centennial College receives 506 seats (223 health, 112 STEM, 108 trades, 28 education, 35 other labour-market driven); George Brown Polytechnic receives 1,454 seats (1,054 health, 212 education, 169 trades, 19 STEM); Seneca Polytechnic receives 2,162 seats (1,413 health, 422 STEM, 188 education, 139 trades).
Dr. Craig Stephenson, President and CEO of Centennial College, said: "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."
As HOC reported in June 2026, Ontario identified a need for 1 million university graduates over the next decade to fill labour gaps.
The facts
How much is Ontario investing in new college seats in the GTA?
$64 million is being invested to fund 4,122 additional seats at Centennial College, George Brown Polytechnic and Seneca Polytechnic in the Greater Toronto Area.
What fields do the new college seats focus on?
The new seats focus on STEM, health care, education and trades—all high-demand fields identified to address labour gaps.
When can students enroll in these new college seats?
Students can enroll in the new seats as early as fall 2026.
How many new seats is each GTA college receiving?
Centennial College receives 506 seats, George Brown Polytechnic receives 1,454 seats, and Seneca Polytechnic receives 2,162 seats.
