Summary

The Ministry of Colleges and Universities is responsible for making sure that Ontario’s postsecondary education system prepares students and job seekers with the high-quality education, skills and opportunities needed to get good jobs, providing Ontario’s businesses with the skilled workforce and talent they need to thrive and prosper. The ministry also supports research and innovation to help the province compete and thrive in the global economy.

Ministry program summary

VoteProgram

Estimates
2024-25 $

Estimates
2023-24 $

Difference
between
2024-25
and
2023-24 $

Actual
2022-23 $

Operating expense

3001Ministry Administration Program15,682,30015,012,000670,30015,029,617
3002Postsecondary Education Program6,856,795,6006,631,704,000225,091,6006,198,266,236
3005Research Program176,396,600206,897,100(30,500,500)176,914,394
 Total operating expense to be voted7,048,874,5006,853,613,100195,261,4006,390,210,247
 Statutory appropriations56,456,01456,506,014(50,000)55,167,954
 Ministry total operating expense7,105,330,5146,910,119,114195,211,4006,445,378,201
 Consolidation adjustment - Colleges4,470,275,6004,627,116,400(156,840,800)4,778,070,898
 Operating expense adjustment - Student Assistance Interest Expense Reclassification(48,979,900)(48,979,900)-(22,045,704)
 Consolidation adjustment - Children’s Aid Societies(1,600,000)(1,050,000)(550,000)-
 Consolidation adjustment - Hospitals(5,651,500)(10,591,200)4,939,700(8,542,435)
 Consolidation adjustment - General Real Estate Portfolio(683,000)(676,800)(6,200)(797,997)
 Total including consolidation & other adjustments11,518,691,71411,475,937,61442,754,10011,192,062,963

Operating assets

3002Postsecondary Education Program482,400,000331,000,000151,400,000277,030,451
 Total operating assets to be voted482,400,000331,000,000151,400,000277,030,451
 Statutory appropriations---35,000,000
 Ministry total operating assets482,400,000331,000,000151,400,000312,030,451

Capital expense

3002Postsecondary Education Program245,980,900204,847,70041,133,200219,609,415
3005Research Program105,168,800110,642,000(5,473,200)60,734,909
 Total capital expense to be voted351,149,700315,489,70035,660,000280,344,324
 Statutory appropriations959,600870,90088,7005,778,605
 Ministry total capital expense352,109,300316,360,60035,748,700286,122,929
 Consolidation adjustment - Colleges331,290,800342,315,900(11,025,100)290,596,981
 Consolidation adjustment - Hospitals(13,027,800)(19,766,200)6,738,400(4,481,629)
 Total including consolidation & other adjustments670,372,300638,910,30031,462,000572,238,281

Capital assets

3002Postsecondary Education Program3,501,0001,0003,500,000-
 Total capital assets to be voted3,501,0001,0003,500,000-
 Ministry total capital assets3,501,0001,0003,500,000-
 Ministry total operating and capital including consolidation and other adjustments (not including assets)12,189,064,01412,114,847,91474,216,10011,764,301,244

Reconciliation to previously published data

Operating expense

Estimates
2023-24 $

Actual
2022-23 $

Total operating expense previously published footnote 16,910,119,1146,432,863,201
Government reorganization  

Transfer of functions from other Ministries

-12,515,000
Restated total operating expense6,910,119,1146,445,378,201

Ministry Administration Program - vote 3001

The Ministry Administration Program provides overall direction required to enable the Ministry of Colleges and Universities to meet its objectives; and delivers administrative and support services for the operational programs of the ministry.

Vote summary

ItemItem

Estimates
2024-25 $

Estimates
2023-24 $

Difference
between
2024-25
and
2023-24 $

Actual
2022-23 $

Operating expense

1Ministry administration15,682,30015,012,000670,30015,029,617
 Total operating expense to be voted15,682,30015,012,000670,30015,029,617
SMinister's salary, the Executive Council Act47,84147,841-49,301
SParliamentary assistant's salary, the Executive Council Act16,17316,173-16,667
SBad debt expenses for Administrative Costs, the Financial Administration Act1,0001,000--
 Total statutory appropriations65,01465,014-65,968
 Total operating expense15,747,31415,077,014670,30015,095,585

Standard account by item and sub-items

Vote-
item
number		Standard account by item and sub-itemsAmount $Amount $

Operating expense

3001-1Ministry administration  
 

Salaries and wages

 8,756,800
 

Employee benefits

 1,083,200
 

Transportation and communication

 175,200
 

Services

 5,595,600
 

Supplies and equipment

 71,500
 Total operating expense to be voted 15,682,300
 Sub-items:  
 Main office  
 

Salaries and wages

2,907,300 
 

Employee benefits

477,700 
 

Transportation and communication

175,200 
 

Services

324,700 
 

Supplies and equipment

71,5003,956,400
 Financial and administrative services  
 

Salaries and wages

2,133,300 
 

Employee benefits

194,800 
 

Services

2,892,0005,220,100
 Human resources  
 

Salaries and wages

957,100 
 

Employee benefits

127,700 
 

Services

200,2001,285,000
 Communications services  
 

Salaries and wages

2,759,100 
 

Employee benefits

283,000 
 

Services

495,5003,537,600
 Legal services  
 

Services

1,530,2001,530,200
 Information systems  
 

Services

153,000153,000
 Total operating expense to be voted 15,682,300
 Statutory appropriations  
Statutory

Minister's salary, the Executive Council Act

 47,841
Statutory

Parliamentary Assistant's Salary, the Executive Council Act

 16,173
 Statutory appropriations  
 

Other transactions

  
Statutory

Bad debt expenses for Administrative Costs, the Financial Administration Act

 1,000
 Total operating expense for Ministry Administration Program 15,747,314

Postsecondary Education Program - vote 3002

The Postsecondary Education (PSE) program is responsible for supporting institutions and students respectively, to create an innovative, accessible, financially sustainable and responsive PSE system in Ontario. The PSE program develops and implements strategic and operational policies, and provides financial support for postsecondary education institutions and students in Ontario. The PSE program works in support of the government's social and economic policy objectives with the goal of providing opportunities for high quality, innovative, responsive and accessible postsecondary education. The PSE program also supports Ontarians who are seeking access to the postsecondary education system by providing financial and regulatory support, as well as modern delivery channels, enabled by technology.

Key programs and activities include: developing policy, legislative and funding frameworks; administrating transfer payments to postsecondary institutions; managing financial and governance relationships with postsecondary institutions, agencies and transfer payment organizations; managing accountability mechanisms, such as bilateral Strategic Mandate Agreements which include implementation of the performance-based funding model; providing supports for Indigenous and Francophone learners; regulating public colleges in accordance with applicable statutes; providing quality assurance to public colleges as well as out of province and private postsecondary institutions that are seeking to offer degrees in the province; and developing vocational learning outcomes for non-degree postsecondary programs.

Through the PSE program, the ministry delivers the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), an integrated needs-based financial aid program with the federal government. OSAP provides financial assistance, in the form of grants and loans, to qualified students in postsecondary studies. In addition, the ministry provides bursaries, scholarships, aid and incentive programs including the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant to postsecondary students.

Through the Office of the Superintendent of Career Colleges, the ministry regulates career colleges, ensuring student protection and program quality and administers the International Student Program which allows institutions in Ontario to accept international students.

The PSE program also includes oversight of the Ontario agency Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON) and implementation of other related Intellectual Property (IP) initiatives to support the postsecondary education sector and broader innovation ecosystem achieve economic opportunity through an enhanced focus on the generation, protection and management of IP.

Vote summary

Item numberItem

Estimates
2024-25 $

Estimates
2023-24 $

Difference
between
2024-25
and
2023-24 $

Actual
2022-23 $

Operating expense

1Colleges, universities and student support6,856,795,6006,631,704,000225,091,6006,198,266,236
 Total operating expense to be voted6,856,795,6006,631,704,000225,091,6006,198,266,236
SBad debt expenses for Defaulted Student Loans, the Financial Administration Act54,540,00054,540,000-52,892,130
SBad debt expenses for Colleges and Universities, the Financial Administration Act1,350,0001,400,000(50,000)1,400,000
STraining Completion Assurance Fund, the Ontario Career Colleges Act1,0001,000-309,856
SBad debt expenses for Career Colleges, the Financial Administration Act500,000500,000-500,000
 Total statutory appropriations56,391,00056,441,000(50,000)55,101,986
 Total operating expense6,913,186,6006,688,145,000225,041,6006,253,368,222

Operating assets

4Colleges, universities and student support482,400,000331,000,000151,400,000277,030,451
 Total operating assets to be voted482,400,000331,000,000151,400,000277,030,451
SColleges and Universities Support - Loans, the Financial Administration Act---35,000,000
 Total statutory appropriations---35,000,000
 Total operating assets482,400,000331,000,000151,400,000312,030,451

Capital expense

3Support for Postsecondary Education245,980,900204,847,70041,133,200219,609,415
 Total capital expense to be voted245,980,900204,847,70041,133,200219,609,415
SAmortization, the Financial Administration Act959,600870,90088,7005,778,605
 Total statutory appropriations959,600870,90088,7005,778,605
 Total capital expense246,940,500205,718,60041,221,900225,388,020

Capital assets

6Colleges, universities and student support3,501,0001,0003,500,000-
 Total capital assets to be voted3,501,0001,0003,500,000-
 Total capital assets3,501,0001,0003,500,000-

Standard account by item and sub-items

Vote-
item
number		Standard account by item and sub-itemsAmount $Amount $

Operating expense

3002-1Colleges, universities and student support  
 

Salaries and wages

 26,546,300
 

Employee benefits

 3,828,500
 

Transportation and communication

 499,300
 

Services

 25,241,600
 

Supplies and equipment

 1,377,500
 

Transfer payments

  
 

Grants for Indigenous Institute operating costs

31,202,800 
 

Intellectual Property Ontario

13,933,600 
 

Grants for College Operating Costs

1,514,049,500 
 

Grants for University Operating Costs

3,855,705,000 
 

Council of Ministers of Education, Canada

748,200 
 

Postsecondary Transformation

13,600,000 
 

Student Financial Assistance Programs

1,370,264,3006,799,503,400
 Subtotal 6,856,996,600
 Less: recoveries 201,000
 Total operating expense to be voted 6,856,795,600
 Statutory appropriations  
 

Other transactions

  
Statutory

Bad debt expenses for Defaulted Student Loans, the Financial Administration Act

 54,540,000
 

Other transactions

  
Statutory

Bad debt expenses for Colleges and Universities, the Financial Administration Act

 1,350,000
 Statutory appropriations  
 

Other transactions

  
Statutory

Training Completion Assurance Fund, the Ontario Career Colleges Act

 1,000
 Statutory appropriations  
 

Other transactions

  
Statutory

Bad debt expenses for Career Colleges, the Financial Administration Act

 500,000
 Total operating expense for Postsecondary Education Program 6,913,186,600

Operating assets

3002-4Colleges, universities and student support  
 

Loans and investments

  
 

Student loans

481,900,000 
 

Defaulted Student Loans

500,000482,400,000
 Total operating assets to be voted 482,400,000
 Total operating assets for Postsecondary Education Program 482,400,000

Capital expense

3002-3Support for Postsecondary Education  
 

Transfer payments

  
 

Capital grants - Indigenous Institutes

2,000,000 
 

Capital grants - Colleges

119,957,700 
 

Capital grants - Universities

124,022,200245,979,900
 

Other transactions

 1,000
 Total capital expense to be voted 245,980,900
 Statutory appropriations  
 

Other transactions

  
Statutory

Amortization, the Financial Administration Act

 959,600
 Total capital expense for Postsecondary Education Program 246,940,500

Capital assets

3002-6Colleges, Universities and Student support  
 

Business application software - asset costs

 3,501,000
 Total capital assets to be voted 3,501,000
 Total capital assets for Postsecondary Education Program 3,501,000

Research Program - vote 3005

The Research Program supports a strong research and innovation ecosystem in Ontario by: developing and administering the ministry's suite of research programs that invest in operations, infrastructure and research talent to support world-class research and researchers working in publicly-funded institutions across Ontario; leveraging federal funding; advancing translational and focused research in specific areas; supporting the development of talent; and supporting global research and development collaborations via Memoranda of Understanding with other jurisdictions.

Vote summary

Item numberItem

Estimates
2024-25 $

Estimates
2023-24 $

Difference
between
2024-25
and
2023-24 $

Actual
2022-23 $

Operating expense

1Research support operating expense176,396,600206,897,100(30,500,500)176,914,394
 Total operating expense to be voted176,396,600206,897,100($30,500,500)176,914,394
 Total operating expense176,396,600206,897,100($30,500,500)176,914,394

Capital expense

3Research support capital expense105,168,800110,642,000(5,473,200)60,734,909
 Total capital expense to be voted105,168,800110,642,000($5,473,200)60,734,909
 Total capital expense105,168,800110,642,000($5,473,200)60,734,909

Standard account by item and sub-items

Vote-
item
number		Standard account by item and sub-itemsAmount $

Operating expense

3005-1Research support operating expense 
 

Salaries and wages

2,958,300
 

Employee benefits

399,400
 

Transportation and communication

16,500
 

Services

248,000
 

Supplies and equipment

15,400
 

Transfer payments

 
 

Research operating costs

172,759,000
 Total operating expense to be voted176,396,600
 Total operating expense for research program176,396,600

Capital expense

3005-3Research support capital expense 
 

Transfer payments

 
 

Ontario research fund - research infrastructure

105,168,800
 Total capital expense to be voted105,168,800
 Total capital expense for research program105,168,800