Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Ontario Funding More Than 980 Additional Seats at Georgian College to Prepare Students for In-Demand Careers
News ReleaseOctober 15, 2026
Province’s $1.7 billion investment funding more than 70,000 additional seats in STEM, health care, education and trades
BARRIE — The Ontario government has invested $25 million to fund 987 additional seats at Georgian College 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 Georgian College include programs in health, STEM, trades, education and other labour-market driven programs with seats available for student enrollment as early as the fall 2026 academic year.
“Amid global economic uncertainty, our government is taking decisive action to strengthen and protect Ontario’s pipeline of highly skilled workers,” said Lorne Coe, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “This seat expansion will ensure that more students can get the world-class education they need to launch good-paying careers while driving Central Ontario’s and Ontario’s economic growth for generations to come.”
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.
“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.”
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 987 newly funded seats at Georgian College include: - 668 seats for health programs
- 178 seats for STEM programs
- 80 seats for trades programs
- 44 seats for education programs
- 17 seats for other, labour-market driven programs
“We are grateful to the Government of Ontario for investing in the high-quality, career-focused education that Georgian College offers to serve our communities and beyond,” said Kevin Weaver, President and CEO, Georgian College. “There is growing demand for our students and graduates, and this investment in key programs will help us meet Ontario’s workforce and innovation needs as the population in our region grows and ages.”
This expansion at Georgian College will ensure students in Central Ontario 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.
Related TopicsEducation and apprenticeshipLearn about Ontario’s early years, education and training systems. Includes information on child care, elementary schools, secondary schools, colleges, universities, skills training and financial aid. Learn more
Media ContactsMedia RelationsCommunications Branch Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security MCURES.media@ontario.ca
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