Expenditure Estimates for the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security (2026–2027)
Summary
The Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security ensures Ontario’s postsecondary education system prepares students and job seekers with the high-quality education, skills and opportunities needed to get in-demand jobs in key industries, 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 build a stronger, more resilient economy, while protecting its valuable intellectual property and security interest.
Ministry program summary
| Vote | Program | Estimates 2026-27 $ |
Estimates 2025-26 $ |
Difference Between 2026-27 and 2025-26 $ |
Actual 2024-25 $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3001 | Ministry Administration Program | 16,670,900 | 16,124,100 | 546,800 | 16,206,553 |
| 3002 | Postsecondary Education Program | 9,704,323,300 | 8,877,170,300 | 827,153,000 | 7,342,180,597 |
| 3005 | Research Program | 195,772,400 | 186,304,600 | 9,467,800 | 169,688,858 |
| Total operating expense to be voted | 9,916,766,600 | 9,079,599,000 | 837,167,600 | 7,528,076,008 | |
| Statutory appropriations | 55,132,060 | 56,356,014 | (1,223,954) | 55,567,395 | |
| Ministry total operating expense | 9,971,898,660 | 9,135,955,014 | 835,943,646 | 7,583,643,403 | |
| Consolidation adjustment — Colleges | 3,273,252,800 | 4,582,526,600 | (1,309,273,800) | 5,920,913,428 | |
| Operating expense adjustment — Student Assistance Interest Expense Reclassification | - | (48,979,900) | 48,979,900 | - | |
| Consolidation adjustment — Hospitals | (3,423,200) | (3,123,200) | (300,000) | (7,682,804) | |
| Consolidation adjustment — Children’s Aid Societies | (1,125,000) | (999,800) | (125,200) | (904,541) | |
| Consolidation adjustment — General Real Estate Portfolio | (761,600) | (820,400) | 58,800 | (730,885) | |
| Consolidation adjustment — Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation | - | - | - | (711,651) | |
| Total including consolidation and other adjustments | 13,239,841,660 | 13,664,558,314 | (424,716,654) | 13,494,526,950 |
| Vote | Program | Estimates 2026-27 $ |
Estimates 2025-26 $ |
Difference Between 2026-27 and 2025-26 $ |
Actual 2024-25 $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3002 | Postsecondary Education Program | 3,018,900,000 | 632,077,000 | 2,386,823,000 | 380,722,876 |
| Total operating assets to be voted | 3,018,900,000 | 632,077,000 | 2,386,823,000 | 380,722,876 | |
| Statutory appropriations | 14,000,000 | - | 14,000,000 | - | |
| Ministry total operating assets | 3,032,900,000 | 632,077,000 | 2,400,823,000 | 380,722,876 |
| Vote | Program | Estimates 2026-27 $ |
Estimates 2025-26 $ |
Difference Between 2026-27 and 2025-26 $ |
Actual 2024-25 $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3002 | Postsecondary Education Program | 273,758,500 | 281,391,000 | (7,632,500) | 240,158,328 |
| 3005 | Research Program | 136,230,800 | 159,578,900 | (23,348,100) | 131,368,800 |
| Total capital expense to be voted | 409,989,300 | 440,969,900 | (30,980,600) | 371,527,128 | |
| Statutory appropriations | 959,400 | 959,600 | (200) | 824,713 | |
| Ministry total capital expense | 410,948,700 | 441,929,500 | (30,980,800) | 372,351,841 | |
| Consolidation adjustment — Colleges | 330,909,900 | 338,136,400 | (7,226,500) | 328,301,086 | |
| Consolidation adjustment — Hospitals | (20,937,600) | (30,916,000) | 9,978,400 | (19,960,650) | |
| Consolidation adjustment — General Real Estate Portfolio | - | (496,300) | 496,300 | (8,000,000) | |
| Total including consolidation and other adjustments | 720,921,000 | 748,653,600 | (27,732,600) | 672,692,277 |
| Vote | Program | Estimates 2026-27 $ |
Estimates 2025-26 $ |
Difference Between 2026-27 and 2025-26 $ |
Actual 2024-25 $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3002 | Postsecondary Education Program | 4,110,300 | 3,501,000 | 609,300 | - |
| Total capital assets to be voted | 4,110,300 | 3,501,000 | 609,300 | - | |
| Ministry total capital assets | 4,110,300 | 3,501,000 | 609,300 | - | |
| Ministry total operating and capital including consolidation and other adjustments (not including assets) | 13,960,762,660 | 14,413,211,914 | (452,449,254) | 14,167,219,227 |
Reconciliation to previously published data
| Operating expense | Estimates 2025-26 $ |
Actual 2024-25 $ |
|---|---|---|
| Total operating expense previously published |
7,708,955,014 | 7,562,673,730 |
| Government reorganization | ||
Transfer of functions from other Ministries |
- | 22,969,673 |
Transfer of functions to other Ministries |
(2,000,000) | (2,000,000) |
| Supplementary Estimates | ||
2025-26 Supplementary Estimates |
1,429,000,000 | - |
| Restated total operating expense | 9,135,955,014 | 7,583,643,403 |
Ministry Administration Program - Vote 3001
The Ministry Administration Program provides overall direction to enable the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security to meet its objectives. It delivers administrative and support services, including communications, corporate coordination, finance, human resources, legal services, and information technology, to support the ministry’s operational programs.
Vote summary
| Item number | Item | Estimates 2026-27 $ |
Estimates 2025-26 $ |
Difference Between 2026-27 and 2025-26 $ |
Actual 2024-25 $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ministry administration | 16,670,900 | 16,124,100 | 546,800 | 16,206,553 |
| Total operating expense to be voted | 16,670,900 | 16,124,100 | 546,800 | 16,206,553 | |
| S | Minister’s salary, the Executive Council Act | 66,559 | 47,841 | 18,718 | 49,301 |
| S | Parliamentary Assistant's Salary, the Executive Council Act | 22,501 | 16,173 | 6,328 | 16,667 |
| S | Bad Debt Expenses for administrative Costs, the Financial Administration Act | 1,000 | 1,000 | - | - |
| Total statutory appropriations | 90,060 | 65,014 | 25,046 | 65,968 | |
| Total operating expense | 16,760,960 | 16,189,114 | 571,846 | 16,272,521 |
Standard accounts classification
| Vote- item number |
Standard account by item and sub-items | Amount $ | Amount $ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating expense | |||
| 3001-1 | Ministry administration | ||
Salaries and wages |
9,767,300 | ||
Employee benefits |
1,071,300 | ||
Transportation and communication |
175,200 | ||
Services |
5,585,600 | ||
Supplies and equipment |
71,500 | ||
| Total operating expense to be voted | 16,670,900 | ||
| Sub-items: | |||
| Main office | |||
Salaries and wages |
2,945,700 | ||
Employee benefits |
465,800 | ||
Transportation and communication |
175,200 | ||
Services |
314,700 | ||
Supplies and equipment |
71,500 | 3,972,900 | |
| Financial and administrative services | |||
Salaries and wages |
2,930,600 | ||
Employee benefits |
194,800 | ||
Services |
2,892,000 | 6,017,400 | |
| Human resources | |||
Salaries and wages |
1,002,100 | ||
Employee benefits |
127,700 | ||
Services |
200,200 | 1,330,000 | |
| Communications services | |||
Salaries and wages |
2,888,900 | ||
Employee benefits |
283,000 | ||
Services |
495,500 | 3,667,400 | |
| Legal Services | |||
Services |
1,530,200 | 1,530,200 | |
| Information systems | |||
Services |
153,000 | 153,000 | |
| Total operating expense to be voted | 16,670,900 | ||
| Statutory appropriations | |||
| Statutory | Minister’s salary, the Executive Council Act |
66,559 | |
| Statutory | Parliamentary Assistant's Salary, the Executive Council Act |
22,501 | |
Other transactions |
|||
| Statutory | Bad debt expenses for administrative costs, the Financial Administration Act |
1,000 | |
| Total operating expense for ministry administration program | 16,760,960 |
Postsecondary Education Program - Vote 3002
The Postsecondary Education (PSE) program supports institutions and students in creating an innovative, accessible, financially sustainable and responsive PSE system in Ontario. It develops and implements strategic and operational policies and provides financial support to postsecondary institutions and students. It also provides regulatory oversight and quality assurance for a range of postsecondary education programs and institutions and supports modern delivery channels enabled by technology. The program aligns with the government's social and economic policy objectives, aiming to provide opportunities for high-quality, innovative, responsive, and accessible postsecondary education.
Key programs and activities include developing policy, legislative, and funding frameworks; administering transfer payments to postsecondary institutions; managing financial and governance relationships with institutions, agencies and transfer payment organizations; managing accountability mechanisms, such as bilateral Strategic Mandate Agreements including the implementation of the performance-based funding model; supporting Indigenous and Francophone learners; administering the International Student Program, allowing institutions to accept international students; regulating public colleges in accordance with applicable statutes; providing quality assurance to public colleges and out-of-province and private institutions seeking to offer degrees in Ontario; and developing vocational learning outcomes for non-degree programs.
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.
Through the Office of the Superintendent of Career Colleges, the ministry regulates career colleges, ensuring student protection and program quality.
The PSE program also oversees Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON) and the implementation of related Intellectual Property (IP) initiatives to support the postsecondary education sector.
Vote summary
| Item number | Item | Estimates 2026-27 $ |
Estimates 2025-26 $ |
Difference Between 2026-27 and 2025-26 $ |
Actual 2024-25 $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colleges, Universities and Student Support | 9,704,323,300 | 8,877,170,300 | 827,153,000 | 7,342,180,597 |
| Total operating expense to be voted | 9,704,323,300 | 8,877,170,300 | 827,153,000 | 7,342,180,597 | |
| S | Bad debt expenses for defaulted student loans, the Financial Administration Act | 54,540,000 | 54,540,000 | - | 54,486,985 |
| S | Bad debt expenses for Colleges and Universities, the Financial Administration Act | 1,000 | 1,250,000 | (1,249,000) | - |
| S | Bad debt expenses for career colleges, the Financial Administration Act | 500,000 | 500,000 | - | 430,128 |
| S | Training Completion Assurance Fund, the Ontario Career Colleges Act | 1,000 | 1,000 | - | 584,314 |
| Total statutory appropriations | 55,042,000 | 56,291,000 | (1,249,000) | 55,501,427 | |
| Total operating expense | 9,759,365,300 | 8,933,461,300 | 825,904,000 | 7,397,682,024 |
| Item number | Item | Estimates 2026-27 $ |
Estimates 2025-26 $ |
Difference Between 2026-27 and 2025-26 $ |
Actual 2024-25 $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Colleges, Universities and Student Support | 3,018,900,000 | 632,077,000 | 2,386,823,000 | 380,722,876 |
| Total operating assets to be voted | 3,018,900,000 | 632,077,000 | 2,386,823,000 | 380,722,876 | |
| S | Colleges and Universities Support - loans, the Financial Administration Act | 14,000,000 | - | 14,000,000 | - |
| Total statutory appropriations | 14,000,000 | - | 14,000,000 | - | |
| Total operating assets | 3,032,900,000 | 632,077,000 | 2,400,823,000 | 380,722,876 |
| Item number | Item | Estimates 2026-27 $ |
Estimates 2025-26 $ |
Difference Between 2026-27 and 2025-26 $ |
Actual 2024-25 $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Support for Postsecondary Education | 273,758,500 | 281,391,000 | (7,632,500) | 240,158,328 |
| Total capital expense to be voted | 273,758,500 | 281,391,000 | (7,632,500) | 240,158,328 | |
| S | Amortization, the Financial Administration Act | 959,400 | 959,600 | (200) | 824,713 |
| Total statutory appropriations | 959,400 | 959,600 | (200) | 824,713 | |
| Total capital expense | 274,717,900 | 282,350,600 | (7,632,700) | 240,983,041 |
| Item number | Item | Estimates 2026-27 $ |
Estimates 2025-26 $ |
Difference Between 2026-27 and 2025-26 $ |
Actual 2024-25 $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Colleges, Universities and Student Support | 4,110,300 | 3,501,000 | 609,300 | - |
| Total capital assets to be voted | 4,110,300 | 3,501,000 | 609,300 | - | |
| Total capital assets | 4,110,300 | 3,501,000 | 609,300 | - |
Standard accounts classification
| Vote- item number |
Standard account by item and sub-items | Amount $ | Amount $ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3002-1 | Colleges, Universities and Student Support | ||
Salaries and wages |
30,616,400 | ||
Employee benefits |
3,881,700 | ||
Transportation and communication |
499,300 | ||
Services |
22,299,700 | ||
Supplies and equipment |
1,377,500 | ||
Transfer payments |
|||
Grants for Indigenous institute operating costs |
45,352,800 | ||
Intellectual Property Ontario |
27,867,200 | ||
Grants for college operating costs |
2,139,259,800 | ||
Grants for university operating costs |
4,970,657,700 | ||
Council of Ministers of Education, Canada |
748,200 | ||
Postsecondary transformation |
13,600,000 | ||
Student financial assistance programs |
2,448,364,000 | 9,645,849,700 | |
| Subtotal | 9,704,524,300 | ||
| Less: recoveries | 201,000 | ||
| Total operating expense to be voted | 9,704,323,300 | ||
| 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 |
1,000 | |
| Statutory appropriations | |||
Other transactions |
|||
| Statutory | Bad debt expenses for career colleges, the Financial Administration Act |
500,000 | |
| Statutory appropriations | |||
Other transactions |
|||
| Statutory | Training Completion Assurance Fund, the Ontario Career Colleges Act |
1,000 | |
| Total operating expense for postsecondary education program | 9,759,365,300 |
| Vote- item number |
Standard account by item and sub-items | Amount $ | Amount $ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3002-4 | Colleges, Universities and Student Support | ||
Loans and investments |
|||
Student loans |
3,018,400,000 | ||
Defaulted student loans |
500,000 | 3,018,900,000 | |
| Total operating expense to be voted | 3,018,900,000 | ||
| Statutory appropriations | |||
Loans and investments |
|||
| Statutory | Colleges and Universities support - loans, the Financial Administration Act |
14,000,000 | |
| Total operating assets for postsecondary education program | 3,032,900,000 |
| Vote- item number |
Standard account by item and sub-items | Amount $ | Amount $ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3002-3 | Support for postsecondary education | ||
Transfer payments |
|||
Capital grants - Indigenous institutes |
2,500,000 | ||
Capital grants - colleges |
141,423,400 | ||
Capital grants - universities |
129,834,100 | 273,757,500 | |
Other transactions |
1,000 | ||
| Total capital expense to be voted | 273,758,500 | ||
| Statutory appropriations | |||
Other transactions |
|||
| Statutory | Amortization, the Financial Administration Act |
959,400 | |
| Total capital expense for postsecondary education program | 274,717,900 |
| Vote- item number |
Standard account by item and sub-items | Amount $ |
|---|---|---|
| 3002-6 | Colleges, Universities and Student Support | |
Business application software - asset costs |
4,110,300 | |
| Total capital assets to be voted | 4,110,300 | |
| Total capital assets for postsecondary education program | 4,110,300 |
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 at publicly-funded institutions across Ontario. This program leverages federal funding, promotes translational and focused research in specific areas, supports talent development, and fosters global research and development collaborations with other jurisdictions. It also implements policies and practices on research security to ensure that publicly-funded research supports Ontario’s and Canada’s vital security interests.
Vote summary
| Item number | Item | Estimates 2026-27 $ |
Estimates 2025-26 $ |
Difference Between 2026-27 and 2025-26 $ |
Actual 2024-25 $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Research Support Operating Expense | 195,772,400 | 186,304,600 | 9,467,800 | 169,688,858 |
| Total operating expense to be voted | 195,772,400 | 186,304,600 | 9,467,800 | 169,688,858 | |
| Total operating expense | 195,772,400 | 186,304,600 | 9,467,800 | 169,688,858 |
| Item number | Item | Estimates 2026-27 $ |
Estimates 2025-26 $ |
Difference Between 2026-27 and 2025-26 $ |
Actual 2024-25 $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Research support capital expense | 136,230,800 | 159,578,900 | (23,348,100) | 131,368,800 |
| Total capital expense to be voted | 136,230,800 | 159,578,900 | (23,348,100) | 131,368,800 | |
| Total capital expense | 136,230,800 | 159,578,900 | (23,348,100) | 131,368,800 |
Standard accounts classification
| Vote- item number |
Standard account by item and sub-items | Amount $ |
|---|---|---|
| 3005-1 | Research Support Operating Expense | |
Salaries and wages |
3,339,900 | |
Employee benefits |
399,400 | |
Transportation and communication |
16,500 | |
Services |
248,000 | |
Supplies and equipment |
15,400 | |
Transfer payments |
||
Research operating costs |
191,753,200 | |
| Total operating expense to be voted | 195,772,400 | |
| Total operating expense for research program | 195,772,400 |
| Vote- item number |
Standard account by item and sub-items | Amount $ |
|---|---|---|
| 3005-3 | Research support capital expense | |
Transfer payments |
||
Ontario Research Fund - Research Infrastructure |
136,230,800 | |
| Total capital expense to be voted | 136,230,800 | |
| Total capital expense for research program | 136,230,800 |
Footnotes
- footnote[1] Back to paragraph Total Operating Expense includes Statutory Appropriations, Special Warrants and total operating expense to be voted.