Ministry Overview

Vision

Ontario will have the most educated people and highly skilled workforce in the world to build the province’s competitive advantage and quality of life.

Mandate

The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities directs and shapes Ontario’s postsecondary education and employment and training systems. It provides operating and capital funding to publicly assisted colleges and universities, establishes provincial objectives for the use of public funds and designs frameworks for achieving these objectives.

The ministry ensures that high quality postsecondary education is accessible to all qualified candidates through tuition regulation, operating grants, capital investments, student assistance, targeted funding and accountability mechanisms.

In the area of employment and training, the ministry develops policy directions for adult education and labour market training. The ministry works with the Ontario College of Trades to set standards for occupational training such as trade certification and apprenticeships. The ministry also manages and funds provincial services and programs for employment training and preparation including adult literacy and basic skills, and undertakes labour market research and planning.

Ministry Strategies

Ontario’s economic prosperity and competitive advantage are increasingly dependent on a highly skilled, diverse and adaptive workforce. The province is at its best when people have the opportunity to use their talent and skills to reach their full potential.

The ministry is building a postsecondary education system that is innovative and student-centred, with critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and entrepreneurship at the centre of learning. The system will blend academic with applied learning and ensure that transitions are seamless whether it is from high school, between postsecondary education institutions, or between school and work.

The ministry is working to ensure that all students have access to:

  • a high-quality postsecondary education in their communities and in the online space
  • teaching and learning modes that are interactive and engaging
  • Ontario credentials that have the highest currency in the labour market

The ministry is also building an employment and training network that ensures Ontarians receive the skills training required to participate and thrive in their communities. The network aims to infuse skills training into the classroom, workplace and across all government services and supports. This approach features a modern apprenticeship system that works closely and collaboratively with training institutions, serves the needs of emerging and growing industries and ensures businesses are active participants in skills training.

Through the 2015–2016 Program Review, Renewal and Transformation (PRRT) process, the ministry is leading significant transformation activities to better deliver services to Ontarians, while managing growth. PRRT identifies 4 lenses used to assess each program - Relevance, Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Sustainability.

Ministry Programs and Activities

Postsecondary Education

As stewards of the postsecondary education system, the ministry is taking a leadership role to put innovation at the centre of our transformation agenda. This will ensure that our publicly assisted colleges and universities continue to:

  • be the drivers of creativity and knowledge in our communities
  • foster active and engaged citizens that have the right skills and are prepared for the labour market in the short- and long-term, and are adaptable and committed to lifelong learning

To support this, the ministry is moving forward with a policy of differentiation to ensure that the well-established strengths and specializations of our institutions are harnessed so that together they offer students the best possible learning experiences.

To ensure quality and sustainability, Ontario will be reforming the postsecondary education system funding model, starting with the university sector.

The review will support the government’s priorities by driving differentiation, shifting the focus from enrolment to one of quality, and strengthening accountability between government, institutions and the public.

Consultations on the funding model started in spring 2015, and include students, university leadership and faculty, as well as important partners such as employers, colleges, the elementary and secondary sector, and professional associations.

The government is committed to focusing on postsecondary capacity expansion that increases local access to education in areas of the province where enrolment demand will be strong and capacity gaps are expected to develop over time.

Further to its 2014 Budget commitment, the ministry issued a competitive call for proposals to postsecondary institutions to expand capacity where student demand is strong and where there are gaps in access to an undergraduate degree. This will support Ontario’s growing knowledge-based economy. In 2015, the government will move forward with its plan to build or expand Ontario university campuses.

Ensuring safe and effective learning environments for Ontario’s postsecondary students remains a priority for Ontario’s ongoing investments in the sector. That is why the government will continue its investments in critical maintenance repairs and upgrades to existing postsecondary facilities. As announced in the 2014 Budget, the government is providing additional funding of almost $500 million over the next 10 years, bringing the total planned investments to almost $900 million.

Beyond the walls of the traditional classroom, the ministry is following through on the commitment to expand online learning opportunities for students by establishing Ontario Online, a new Centre of Excellence to be led by colleges and universities that will facilitate the offering of high quality transferable online courses to students across the province.

Ontario Online will improve students’ learning experiences by giving them the flexibility to learn wherever and whenever works best for them. In fall 2015, the newly-established organization will begin the phased roll out of a portal that will give students across the province one-window access to high-quality, transferable online courses and supports and will also help reduce course duplication in the system.

The ministry continues to implement the Credit Transfer Initiative to further support student mobility by increasing/expanding pathways and collaboration between Ontario institutions, and improving the consistency and predictability of credit transfer in the system. This will ensure students do not have to unnecessarily repeat prior relevant learning and know in advance how much credit they can expect to receive when transferring institutions – saving students’ time and money.

The ministry is working to ensure that our students have access to a range of relevant pathways and programs and to ensure that our students get the best in applied learning. The government is committed to continue working with our partners to expand quality experiential learning activities and support student entrepreneurship.

The ministry is also focused on closing the achievement gaps by improving access and success for under-represented groups including Aboriginal students, students with disabilities, and First Generation students (those that are first in the family to participate in postsecondary education), and to provide more options for Francophone students, apprentices and adult learners to study and train in French.

Ontario’s continued economic prosperity depends on a highly skilled workforce that is diverse, adaptable and innovative. Studies suggest that 7 of every 10 new jobs created are expected to require postsecondary education and training. This is why the government is continuing to improve education and skills training through postsecondary education and employment programs.

Through a variety of loans, grants and bursaries and a new postsecondary tuition framework, the government will ensure that every qualified student will be able to pursue a postsecondary education.

Starting in 2014–2015, the government introduced a fairer approach to deferral fees, ensuring students are not asked to pay for their tuition before their Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) funding arrives. These changes were implemented at many colleges and universities for 2014–2015, and will be implemented at all publicly-assisted institutions by the 2015–2016 academic year.

The government is also modernizing OSAP by:

  • indexing the Ontario maximum student at levels annually to inflation, starting with the 2015–2016 school year
  • launching the Ontario Student Loan Rehabilitation Program, a new initiative that will allow past borrowers who defaulted on the Ontario portion of their student loan to bring their loan back into good standing through scheduled partial payments
  • indexing the debt cap – the level above which student loans are forgiven – to inflation, ensuring that OSAP remains sustainable in the long term. Repayable debt will remain at 60% of the maximum amount of financial aid available to students
  • eliminating the requirement for students to report their vehicle as an asset for OSAP assessment and aligning with the 2014–2015 change in federal treatment of vehicles
  • streamlining and simplifying the back-office administration of student loans by funding them directly through the ministry and proposing to terminate the Ontario Student Loan Trust. The process of how students apply for and receive student loans will remain unchanged

To better inform students about their future career options and ensure greater accountability, the government is requiring postsecondary education institutions to better track outcomes for students over time and report on career success rates among graduates.

Ontario’s investments in postsecondary education over the last decade have benefitted students and have resulted in a highly skilled workforce that contributes to Ontario’s economic growth and global competitiveness.

Significant accomplishments have been achieved since 2002:

  • more Ontarians than ever are participating in postsecondary education. Enrolment has increased by over 43% since 2002–2003, larger than any increase in a comparable period in Ontario’s history
  • students are graduating at a higher rate than in the past, with 77% of university undergraduates completing university
  • university and college graduates are seeing higher employment rates upon graduation with 83% of 2012–2013 college graduates and 87% of 2010–2011 university graduates employed within 6 months of graduation
  • better financial support is available to students and more than 380,000 students received financial assistance in 2013–2014
  • graduate enrolments increased 60% between 2002–2003 and 2013–2014 leading to more talent in the areas of research and innovation

Ontario will continue to invest in the postsecondary education sector to ensure colleges, universities and students have the resources they need. Investments in education and skills training play a critical role in preparing people to compete globally and to meet the demands of a rapidly changing economy.

To improve access to colleges and universities, the government will continue to strengthen student aid. This includes maintaining the 30% off Ontario Tuition grant to make postsecondary education affordable for low- and middle-income students and their families.

Over the coming year, the government will continue to make strategic investments in postsecondary education to build on successes in a sustainable way.

Building a Skilled Workforce

Building a skilled, resilient and productive Ontario workforce also requires a modern and cohesive employment and training services network. This is a network that best serves the needs of individuals and employers, and is able to effectively respond to rapidly changing labour market realities.

That is why the ministry is moving forward on its commitment to integrate employment and training services, which will consolidate employment and training programs and services into a single, integrated network– Employment Ontario. These services will be uniquely tailored to individual needs so that all clients benefit from government interventions – from Ontarians who face complex challenges in finding and maintaining employment to highly-skilled individuals interested in creating a business or learning a skilled trade.

For example, a competitive process was initiated to identify an organization, or partnership of organizations, to set up and manage the new Ontario Centre for Workforce Innovation by fall 2015. As announced in the 2014 Fall Economic Statement, the Centre will be a leading-edge centre of research excellence that will support the employment and training services sector and help build a skilled, resilient and productive Ontario workforce.

Additionally, the government initiated a competitive process to seek the technical and statistical expertise to support the design of a common client assessment tool. The development of such a tool is consistent with recommendations from the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance and the government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy, and will help improve employment service decisions, support individuals facing serious barriers to employment, and achieve greater value for money.

The new system will be easy to navigate and offer a variety of modern and innovative programs and services. It will equip Ontarians with the skills they need to succeed and deliver real results for jobseekers and employers. Ontarians will know where they can go to get help finding a job and employers will know where to go to find workers.

For those who wish to pursue a career in the skilled trades, the system will provide improved navigation of the apprenticeship system – allowing clients to get the right information, receive financial help, and connect with an employer in the trade that they are interested in.

For those facing complex barriers to employment, this new system will help move people out of poverty and into sustainable employment by providing individualized services and making connections to other economic and social supports such as income supports for social assistance recipients and language and/or bridge training for newcomers.

Through improved coordination and integration, this new system will also help to reduce labour market participation gaps for Ontarians such as Aboriginal people, immigrants, persons with disabilities and youth. It will assist older workers to stay in the workforce longer, if they choose to do so, and harness the skills and experiences of newcomers and facilitate their integration into Ontario’s labour market.

As part of the ongoing review of business support programs, the government also announced changes to the Apprenticeship Training Tax Credit (ATTC), which supports salary and wages paid to apprentices, and would return the tax credit to the level of support offered prior to the 2009 enhancements.

The savings associated with these changes would be used to fund the Canada–Ontario Job Grant and a number of targeted initiatives that support youth employment through the renewal of the Ontario Youth Jobs Strategy.

Ontario’s first summit on Talent and Skills in the New Economy, held in March 2014, focused on the latest research and best practices aimed at preparing people to participate in and capitalize on the changing labour market. In 2015, the ministry will re-convene representatives from the business, labour and academic communities to build partnerships and foster collaboration.

The government has made progress in reducing youth unemployment (15-24 years) from a recent high of 17.6%t in 2009 to 15.7% in 2014. However, youth unemployment remains unacceptably high. That is why, in Budget 2015, the government committed an additional $250 million over the next 2 years in the Ontario Youth Jobs Strategy in a suite of programs that will serve up to 150,000 youth and focus on skills development, labour market connections, entrepreneurship and innovation.

The government will enhance the skills of Ontario’s youth by:

  • creating Youth Job Connection, an intensive employment support program to help youth who experience barriers to employment
  • providing an additional $5 million in funding through the Postsecondary Education Fund for Aboriginal Learners (PEFAL) to ensure that high-quality postsecondary education and training remain accessible to Aboriginal learners through the province’s 9 Aboriginal institutes

Additionally, through the creation of Youth Job Link, the government will help ensure the best fit between the skills youth have and the skills employers need. This program will help students and youth without significant barriers access employment and job search resources and labour market information to help young people pursue the careers they are interested in.

Apprenticeship training is a key part of building the well-educated and highly skilled workforce the province needs to compete in the current and future economy.

In April 2015, Ontario announced an additional investment of $55 million to enhance 3 apprenticeship programs. This investment will help the next generation of skilled tradespeople access the training, equipment and facilities they need to get good jobs:

  • the Apprenticeship Enhancement Fund will receive an additional $23 million over 2 years to help colleges and other institutions train more people and deliver relevant, high-quality apprenticeship programs by investing in equipment, space and technologies
  • Pre-Apprenticeship training targets groups that are underrepresented in the trades, including at-risk youth, Aboriginal people, newcomers and women. The Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program will receive $13 million more in funding over 2 years. This will help people considering careers in the trades develop their job skills and readiness to find work as apprentices through in-class training sessions and work placements
  • in addition, colleges and other training organizations funded by Ontario will receive an additional $19 million over 3 years. This funding increase will support equipment upgrades and more lab time during in-school apprenticeship sessions

The Ontario College of Trades — an industry-driven governing body for the province’s apprenticeship and skilled trades system — opened its doors to members in April 2013. By consulting and engaging with its members, as well as conducting reviews of apprenticeship ratios and compulsory certification, the college will continue to demonstrate industry leadership for the trades and apprenticeship — balancing the needs of employers, employees, apprentices, the economy and the public.

In October 2014, the government appointed Tony Dean to review issues related to the scope of practice and the process and criteria for the review of the classification of trades as compulsory or voluntary, to support the continued success of the College. The final report will be submitted to the government in October 2015.

Ministry Results Going Forward

Postsecondary Education

  • raise Ontario’s postsecondary educational attainment rate to 70% by 2020
  • ensure a college or university space is available for every qualified student
  • provide students with a high quality learning experience and credentials that equip students with the skills for success
  • increase the quality of postsecondary education and strengthen accountability so that students are provided with an internationally competitive system that gives them the skills they need to get jobs in the 21st century economy
  • close achievement gaps for under-represented groups including Aboriginal students, students with disabilities, First Generation students and Francophone students
  • improve access to postsecondary education through a strong student financial assistance program
  • building on the success of the 30% Off Ontario Tuition grant, continue to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of student financial assistance
  • improve access to French-language postsecondary education programs and services in central and southwestern Ontario
  • strengthen transparency and accountability between the government, institutions and the public
  • work with sector partners — including colleges, universities and employers — to assess key outcomes, including the labour market readiness and success of graduates.
  • ensure that students are able to take online courses for credit through Ontario Online, beginning in 2015
  • continue to work with the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer as well as colleges and universities, to enhance student pathways and reduce barriers for students who want to transfer among Ontario’s 44 publicly funded postsecondary institutions

Employment Ontario

  • continue delivery of quality employment and training, apprenticeship, literacy and labour market programs
  • continue work to integrate employment and training services across government with Employment Ontario to give individuals and employers easier and better access to the services that meet their needs
  • through the new Canada-Ontario Job Grant, launched in 2014–2015, continue to encourage more employers to support existing or new employees in obtaining the skills required to fill and succeed in available jobs
  • continue to support Ontario’s young people through the Ontario Youth Jobs Strategy and by introducing 2 new youth employment programs – Youth Job Connection and Youth Job Link
  • continue support directed at employers, apprentices and training institutions to promote access to and completion of apprenticeships
  • continue to lead work to ensure that timely and relevant labour market information is available to support government, institutions, students, families and employers as they make important decisions about education, training and hiring
  • ensure the employment and training system connects job seekers with employers and helps Ontarians find the jobs that are right for them
  • continue to work in partnership with Aboriginal communities on the development of flexible policies, programs and services that respect and respond to the diversity within Aboriginal communities
  • continue to engage with key stakeholders and Aboriginal partners through a multi-faceted, multi-stage engagement process on employment and training services integration to ensure input from diverse perspectives is sought on policy and program design initiatives
  • introduce a new, more consistent approach to assessing clients’ unique barriers to employment and tracking clients’ journeys through the system
  • provide customized workplace training programs that will give individuals relevant work experience in high-demand occupations
  • continue to support the success of the College of Trades

Alignment of Ministry Programs with the Government’s Priorities

Ministry programs and activities support the government’s broader priorities, as displayed in the following chart.

Ministry Contribution to Priorities and Results

Ministry programs and activities support the government’s broader priorities, specifically Increase Talent & Skills Among Ontarians, and Modernize Infrastructure & Transportation Networks.

The ministry supports these government priorities through 2 initiatives: Transforming Postsecondary Education and Transforming Employment Ontario.

The planned Strategic Outcomes/Results of the Transforming Postsecondary Education initiatives are:

Transform the postsecondary education system to achieve productivity, innovation and fiscal sustainability while protecting quality for students,

70% of Ontarians to have a postsecondary education credential; and,

Better track outcomes for students and report on career success rates.

The planned Strategic Outcomes/Results of the Transforming Employment Ontario initiatives are:

High quality delivery of Employment Ontario programs:

  • approximately 1 million clients are served each year
  • 79% of Second Career students find jobs within 1 year of graduation
  • expand employment opportunities for youth through programs such as the Youth Job Connection

Organizational excellence and effective planning:

  • help workers enter and complete apprenticeships
  • Ontario is committed to supporting a high quality apprenticeship system and the successful implementation of the Ontario College of Trades

Key change initiatives:

  • implementation of the Canada-Ontario Job Fund to support employers in having a greater role in skills training
  • continue to make progress on integrating employment and training services across the government

2015–2016 Performance Measures

Postsecondary Education

  • raise Ontario’s postsecondary education attainment rate to 70% by 2020
  • reduce current gaps in the availability of French-language postsecondary education programs

Employment Ontario

  • 79% of Employment Service program clients will obtain employment or go on to further education/training in 2015–2016
  • in collaboration with other participating ministries, the extension of the Ontario Youth Jobs Strategy will serve up to 150,000 youth over 2 years, including at-risk youth, Aboriginal youth, newcomers and youth with disabilities, with a focus on skills development, labour market connections, entrepreneurship and innovation

2014–2015 Highlight of Achievements

Postsecondary Education

Postsecondary Education Transformation

The ministry has been moving its Postsecondary Education Transformation plan forward. In the past year, the ministry has implemented numerous initiatives that are key elements of this plan:

  • launched a new Course-to-Course Transfer Guide on ONTransfer.ca that makes it easier for postsecondary students to see how their course credits are recognized at other colleges and universities before applying for transfer
  • more than doubled the number of credit transfer pathways between postsecondary institutions from 300 to more than 750, resulting in almost 800,000 transfer opportunities for students
  • released a Major Capacity Expansion Policy Framework that defines criteria for where new or expanded campuses should be located. Universities were invited to submit their proposals by the end of September 2014, and a panel that was established to conduct the evaluation process
  • signed Strategic Mandate Agreements with all 45footnote 1publicly assisted colleges and universities which will help guide future growth by encouraging more focus on unique strengths, while avoiding or limiting expansion in academic areas where programs already exist
  • announced the creation of Ontario Online. The online platform, which will launch in time for the 2015–2016 school year, will give college and university students greater flexibility, choice and mobility, allowing them to take high-quality online courses that are widely recognized for credit at multiple institutions
  • invested $9.3M in 2013–2014 to develop and redesign shared online postsecondary courses. In 2014–2015, a further $13.0M was invested in additional courses and modules – all to be launched for the 2015–2016 school year
  • announced that the government would fund new graduate spaces, beginning with 750 master’s program spaces starting in 2014–2015, to help more students continue their studies and enter careers in high-demand and emerging fields
  • expanded eligibility for the 30% Off Ontario Tuition grant in 2014 to include students in their final year of a 5-year co-op program and students attending private career colleges and other private postsecondary institutions that are eligible for financial aid through the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
  • launched the Ontario Student Loan Rehabilitation Program in January 2015 that will allow past borrowers who defaulted on the Ontario portion of their student loan to bring their loan back into good standing
  • announced that Ontario maximum student aid levels and the debt cap – the level above which student loans are forgiven – would be indexed annually to inflation starting with the 2015–2016 school year
  • extended the Ontario Education Number to more than 90% of students in colleges and universities
  • provided more supports to help students with Autism Spectrum Disorder apply for and succeed in postsecondary education, including a new accessible website, which was created with input from students with disabilities
  • funded 32 projects at colleges and universities across Ontario through 3 separate calls for proposals to help postsecondary students and those transitioning to college or university access the mental health services they need

Employment Ontario

  • employment Ontario served approximately 1 million Ontarians including:
    • more than 150,000 employers have used the network to find workers with the skills they need
    • job seekers, such as laid-off workers who benefit from skills training and other employment and career planning services
    • workers, apprentices, newcomers and youth who benefit from access to life-long learning
  • the transformation of the Employment Service into a one-stop service delivery model effectively addresses the needs of job seekers, employers and Ontario communities. Services are delivered through a network of 171 service providers at over 320 funded service delivery sites
  • new annual apprenticeship registrations have increased from 17,100 in 2002–2003 to more than 26,500 in 2014–2015
  • provided literacy and basic skills programs delivered by more than 200 organizations at more than 300 sites across the province, which helped more than 43,000 learners in 2014–2015
  • launched the Youth Employment Fund through Employment Ontario’s Employment Service in September 2013. Since its launch the fund has helped over 25,000 young people find jobs and receive training
  • in March 2014, Ontario was the first province to sign the Canada Job Fund Agreement, which replaced the Labour Market Agreement and will provide Ontario with $192M per year to support Employment Ontario programs and services, as well as programs in other ministries, for the next 6 years

Ministry Organization

  • Minister, Reza Moridi
    • Parliamentary Assistant, Han Dong
    • Deputy Minister, Marie-Lison Fougère (Acting)
      • Communications Branch, Heather Wright
      • Executive Assistant, Ivonne Mellozzi (Acting)
      • Assistant Deputy Minister for Ministry Of Health and Long Term Care, Health Human Resources Strategy Division, Denise Cole
      • Community Services I & IT Cluster, Soussan Tabari
        • Executive Assistant, Marie Dearlove
        • Strategic Planning and Business Relationship Management Branch, Lolita Singh
        • Case and Grant Management Solutions Branch, Sanaul Haque
        • Data Collection and Decision Support Solution Branch, Carm Scarfo (Acting)
        • iACCESS Solutions Branch, Sanjay Madan
      • Employment and Training Division, David Fulford, Assistant Deputy Minister
        • Executive Assistant, Kimberly Cammock (Acting)
        • Finance, Analysis and System Support Branch, Todd Kilpatrick
        • Program Delivery Support Branch, Teresa Damaso
        • Organizational and Business Excellence Branch, Sandra DiProspero (Acting)
        • Western Region Branch, Mary Joe Freire
        • Central Region Branch, Shelley Unterlander
        • Eastern Region Branch, Patrick Donnelly (Acting)
        • Northern Region Branch, Andrew Irvine
        • Regional Review, Jan Hughes (Acting)
      • Strategic Policy and Programs Division, Paddy Buckley (Acting) Assistant Deputy Minister
        • Executive Assistant, Sarah Robb (Acting)
        • Programs Branch, Jen Liptrot
        • Strategic Policy and Initiatives Branch, Nemone Smith (Acting)
        • Research and Planning Branch, Chris Monahan
        • Strategic Policy Transformation Branch, Nemone Smith (Acting)
        • Labour Market Negotiations Branch, Robert Lowry
        • Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board, James Brown
        • Employment and Training Services Integration, Jacqueline Cureton
        • University Funding Formula Project, Bill Praamsma
      • Postsecondary Education Division, David Carter-Whitney, Assistant Deputy Minister
        • Executive Assistant, Rylan Kinnon (Acting)
        • Postsecondary Finance and Information Management Branch, Didem Proulx
        • Student Financial Assistance Branch, Noah Morris
        • Postsecondary Accountability Branch, Linda Hawke
        • Private Career Colleges Branch, Carol Strachan (Acting)
      • Corporate Management and Services Division, Warren McCay (Acting), Assistant Deputy Ministerfootnote 2
        • Executive Assistant, Caroline Noakes
        • Legal Services Branch, Prabhu Rajan
        • Ontario Internal Audit Education Audit Service Team, Michael Benn (Acting)
        • Corporate Finance and Services Branch, Susan Flanagan (Acting)
        • Strategic Human Resources Branch, Sandy Henderson
        • Corporate Coordination Branch, Dawn Palin Rokosh
        • Organizational Renewal Project, Lisa Alfieri Sladen
      • French Language, Aboriginal Learning and Research Division, Janine Griffore, Assistant Deputy Minister
        • Executive Assistant, Bonaventure Kouamé
        • Aboriginal Education Office, Alayne Bigwin
        • French-Language Education Policy and Programs Branch, Denys Giguère
        • Education Research and Evaluation Strategy Branch, Doris McWhorter
    • Agencies, Boards, and Commissions
      • Boards of Governors of Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology
      • College of Trades Appointments Council
      • Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario
      • Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) Financial Eligibility Advisory Committee
      • Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board
      • Training Completion Assurance Fund Advisory Board (TCAF)

Classified Agencies

Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO)
Assists the minister to improve all aspects of postsecondary education, with a focus on the quality of, and access to, postsecondary education, and enhancing the accountability of postsecondary education institutions. The agency also:
  • recommends targets to be achieved and performance measures to be used to evaluate the postsecondary education sector
  • evaluates the postsecondary education sector, reports to the minister and makes results public
  • conducts research and encourages collaboration among institutions
2015–2016 Expenditure Estimates
2015–2016 Revenue Estimates
2014–2015 Expenditure Interim Actuals
2014–2015 Revenue Interim Actuals
2013–2014 Expenditure Actuals
2013–2014 Revenue Actuals

5,000,000

N/A

4,953,362

N/A

5,000,000

N/A

College of Trades Appointments Council
Established under the Ontario College of Trades and Apprenticeship Act 2009 as an independent operational services agency to the Government of Ontario, the council has the duty to make appointments to the College of Trades governing structure including:
  • Board of Governors
  • Divisional and Trade Boards
  • Roster of Adjudicators
2015–2016 Expenditure Estimates
2015–2016 Revenue Estimates
2014–2015 Expenditure Interim Actuals
2014–2015 Revenue Interim Actuals
2013–2014 Expenditure Actuals
2013–2014 Revenue Actuals

24,375

N/A

20,407

N/A

35,060

N/A

Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board (PEQAB)
Makes recommendations to the minister on applications for the minister’s consent to offer degree programs and/or use the term “university” from new and existing private Ontario degree-granting institutions, out-of-province institutions, Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology and all others not authorized to award degrees by an Ontario statute.
2015–2016 Expenditure Estimates
2015–2016 Revenue Estimates
2014–2015 Expenditure Interim Actuals
2014–2015 Revenue Interim Actuals
2013–2014 Expenditure Actuals
2013–2014 Revenue Actuals

679,550

80,000

694,792

100,000

586,982

110,400

Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) Financial Eligibility Advisory Committee
Considers requests for reconsideration from OSAP applicants and makes recommendations to the minister on their eligibility for financial aid from OSAP.
2015–2016 Expenditure Estimates
2015–2016 Revenue Estimates
2014–2015 Expenditure Interim Actuals
2014–2015 Revenue Interim Actuals
2013–2014 Expenditure Actuals
2013–2014 Revenue Actuals

3,100

N/A

1,775

N/A

3,083

N/A

Training Completion Assurance Fund Advisory Board (TCAF)footnote 3
Provides advice to the Superintendent of Private Career Colleges (PCC) on the administration of TCAF, including financial administration of the fund; criteria for assessing financial viability of PCCs; general guidelines for responding to PCC closures; and responses to specific PCC closures.
2015–2016 Expenditure Estimates
2015–2016 Revenue Estimates
2014–2015 Expenditure Interim Actuals
2014–2015 Revenue Interim Actuals
2013–2014 Expenditure Actuals
2013–2014 Revenue Actuals

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

Detailed Financial Information

Table 1: Ministry Planned Expenditures 2015–2016 ($M)

Expenditure TypeAmount ($M)
Operating

$7,348.0

Capital

$461.6

Total

$7,809.7

Note: Total amount includes statutory appropriations and consolidations. Operating and Capital Assets are not included.

Table 2: Combined Operating and Capital Summary by Vote

Vote/Program
Estimates
2015–2016 ($)
Change from
2014–2015 Estimates ($)
Change from
2014–2015 Estimates (%)
Estimatesfootnote 4
2014–2015 ($)
Interim Actualsfootnote 4
2014–2015 ($)
Actualsfootnote 4
2013–2014 ($)
Operating Expense
Ministry Administration17,307,400(5,674,200)-24.7%22,981,60019,820,30021,975,425
Postsecondary Education6,209,568,50032,427,2000.5%6,177,141,3006,086,835,6006,031,643,378
Employment Ontario1,307,950,300(86,981,000)-6.2%1,394,931,3001,390,974,6001,309,900,990
Strategic Policy and Programs23,870,200(670,000)-2.7%24,540,20019,708,90018,733,699
Less: Special Warrants-(2,155,831,400)-2,155,831,400--
Total Operating Expense to be Voted7,558,696,4002,094,933,40038.3%5,463,763,0007,517,339,4007,382,253,492
Special Warrants-(2,155,831,400)-2,155,831,400--
Statutory Appropriations56,105,01423,414,90071.6%32,690,11462,341,11454,880,908
Ministry Total Operating Expense7,614,801,414(37,483,100)-0.5%7,652,284,5147,579,680,5147,437,134,400
Consolidation Adjustment - Schools(61,480,100)6,163,5009.1%(67,643,600)(64,430,700)(52,449,771)
Consolidation Adjustment - Colleges(171,353,100)(48,519,400)-39.5%(122,833,700)(139,707,000)(165,138,336)
Consolidation Adjustment ­ Ontario Student Loan Trustfootnote 5(16,706,300)(2,561,100)-18.1%(14,145,200)(12,120,100)(10,166,111)
Operating Expense Adjustment ­ Student Assistance Interest Expense Reclassificationfootnote 5(17,243,900)(2,541,900)17.3%(14,702,000)(13,536,000)(10,899,542)
Total Including Consolidation & Other Adjustments7,348,018,014(84,942,000)-1.1%7,432,960,0147,349,886,7147,198,480,640
Operating Assets
Postsecondary Education1,074,500,000(64,750,000)-5.7%1,139,250,0001,023,710,6001,053,466,275
Employment Ontario2,000,000(1,000)0.0%2,001,0001,300,000872,700
Less: Special Warrants-(44,005,700)-44,005,700--
Total Operating Assets to be Voted1,076,500,000(20,745,300)-1.9%1,097,245,3001,025,010,6001,054,338,975
Special Warrants-(44,005,700)-44,005,700--
Statutory Appropriations------
Ministry Total Operating Assets1,076,500,000(64,751,000)-5.7%1,141,251,0001,025,010,6001,054,338,975
Capital Expense
Postsecondary Education264,908,500(19,286,200)-6.8%284,194,700268,080,400197,710,152
Employment Ontario26,501,00010,500,00065.6%16,001,00015,866,40015,962,595
Less: Special Warrants-(48,000,000)-48,000,000--
Total Capital Expense to be Voted291,409,50039,213,80015.5%252,195,700283,946,800213,672,747
Special Warrants-(48,000,000)-48,000,000--
Statutory Appropriations5,216,5002,145,40069.9%3,071,1001,553,2001,551,874
Ministry Total Capital Expense296,626,000(6,640,800)-2.2%303,266,800285,500,000215,224,621
Consolidation Adjustment - Colleges165,010,90074,854,60083.0%90,156,300106,256,100158,020,395
Total Including Consolidation & Other Adjustments461,636,90068,213,80017.3%393,423,100391,756,100373,245,016
Capital Assets
915,500(8,491,600)-90.3%9,407,1009,907,1008,834,307
Employment Ontario------
Less: Special Warrants-(2,360,000)-2,360,000--
Total Capital Assets to be Voted915,500(6,131,600)-87.0%7,047,1009,907,1008,834,307
Special Warrants-(2,360,000)-2,360,000--
Statutory Appropriations------
Ministry Total Capital Assets915,500(8,491,600)-90.3%9,407,1009,907,1008,834,307
Ministry Total Operating and Capital Including Consolidation and Other Adjustments (not including Assets)7,809,654,914(16,728,200)-0.2%7,826,383,1147,741,642,8147,571,725,656

2015–2016 Operating and Capital Allocation - Voted

Postsecondary Education

82.5%

Employment Ontario

17.0%

Ministry Administration

0.2%

Strategic Policy and Programs

0.3%

Appendix: 2014–2015 Annual Report

The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities supports the government’s commitment to strengthen the knowledge and skills of Ontario’s labour force so that the province will remain competitive in the global knowledge-based economy. In the past year, the ministry contributed to this commitment through its work to transform postsecondary education and Employment Ontario.

Key Initiatives and Results

Our goal is to have the most educated people and highly skilled workforce in the world to build the province’s competitive advantage and quality of life.

Transforming Postsecondary Education

Good jobs in the 21st century require a good education. In the coming years, demand is anticipated to continue for university and college graduates and skilled-trades workers.

Ontario remains among the best jurisdictions in North America for talent, training and skills development. With more Ontarians pursuing postsecondary education, the province is focusing on supporting programs that provide young people with the best skills and training they need to create and fill jobs of the future. That’s why the government continues to invest in our postsecondary education system.

Past investments achieved many results and improved our postsecondary education system. Some of the results from the plan included more students attending colleges, universities or learning trades; more graduate spaces in areas that matter to the economy; and, an increased postsecondary education attainment rate.

To position Ontario as a leader in postsecondary education, the ministry continues to work with colleges, universities and students to transform our postsecondary education system. The ministry is working to improve quality and access in Ontario’s postsecondary education sector and ensure financial sustainability over the long term while ensuring our students are provided with a quality education and learning experience.

Ontario’s Differentiation Policy Framework, released in November 2013, set the foundations for a more coordinated postsecondary system and a greater stewardship role for the province. Differentiation is a way of building on strengths, focusing investments and taking a strategic view of how to grow the postsecondary education system.

The differentiation policy supported the negotiation and signing of strategic mandate agreements between the province and all publicly assisted colleges and universities. Agreements were signed with all 45footnote 1 institutions in August 2014.

The agreements will help guide future growth by encouraging institutions to focus on their unique strengths, while avoiding unnecessary duplication. The agreements support a more coordinated and collaborative postsecondary education system that will help the ministry better plan for the future, drive greater quality of education and help encourage success for every qualified postsecondary student in Ontario.

Funding

Despite challenging economic times, the 2014 Budget continued to invest in the postsecondary sector to ensure that students, colleges and universities have the resources they need. Between 2002–2003 and 2014–2015, funding to the postsecondary sector has increased by $2.2 Billion or 82%.

Capital Expansion

In December 2013, a policy framework was released to oversee major capacity expansion in the postsecondary sector, introducing a process to ensure that new spaces are built in the right places.

Further to its 2014 Budget commitment, the ministry issued a competitive call for proposals to postsecondary institutions to expand capacity where student demand is strong and where there are gaps in access to an undergraduate degree.

A government decision for new or expanded Ontario university campuses is anticipated for 2015–2016.

In November 2014, Ontario announced an investment of $4.2 million to help build a permanent, high-tech manufacturing facility at Niagara College. The Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre at Niagara College will provide Ontario-based manufacturers with access to state-of-the-art equipment and research facilities, as well as the expertise and business services of faculty and students.

Building new campuses or expanding existing ones supports the government commitment to provide funding for 60,000 more students. Since introducing the Reaching Higher Plan in 2005–2006, Ontario has invested $2.3 billion in capital funding for Ontario colleges and universities.

To address critical maintenance repairs and upgrades to existing buildings in the postsecondary sector, the 2014 Budget committed to an investment of almost $500 million of additional funding over the next 10 years.

Greater Access and Affordability

Postsecondary education is affordable and accessible to every qualified Ontarian, thanks to progress made over the last 10 years.

Starting in 2013–2014, Ontario implemented a new 4-year tuition framework that caps annual tuition fee increases at an average of 3%, down from 5%.

The new tuition billing policy, which took effect in 2014–2015, will make it easier for students to pay their tuition while ensuring consistency across the postsecondary education system. Beginning in fall 2015, university students will be charged on a per-credit basis if they take less than a 70% course load, increasing to an 80% course load in 2016.

More Ontarians than ever before are getting the opportunity to pursue apprenticeship training or a college or university education. In 2014–2015:

  • there are over 177,000 additional students enrolled at Ontario colleges and universities since 2002–2003, an increase that is greater than in any decade in Ontario’s history
  • the number of graduate students at Ontario universities has increased by 60% since 2002–2003
  • there were over 408,000 students enrolled at Ontario’s 20 publicly assisted universities, and over 231,000 students enrolled full-time at Ontario’s 24 publicly assisted colleges
  • new annual apprenticeship registrations have increased from 17,100 in 2002–2003 to more than 26,500 in 2014–2015

The ministry is also continuing to improve the credit transfer system to ensure that students don’t have to repeat relevant prior learning when moving between postsecondary institutions.

In partnership with colleges, universities and the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT), Ontario has created more than 800,000 transfer opportunities for students from the over 1,200 pathways now available – more than quadruple the pathways that were offered in 2011.

The bilingual credit transfer website, ONTransfer.ca was also launched to make information on transfer opportunities and institutional transfer policies and processes more publicly accessible. This will make it easier for students to plan their education, so they can reach their preferred educational destination faster and enter/re-enter the labour market sooner.

Online Learning

The government is investing $72 million over 5 years to create Ontario Online, a centre of excellence in online and technology-enabled learning, governed and operated by colleges and universities.

Ontario Online will improve students’ learning experiences by giving them the flexibility to learn wherever and whenever works best for them. In fall 2015, the newly-established organization will begin the phased roll-out of a portal that will give students across the province one-window access to high-quality, transferable online courses and supports and will also help reduce course duplication in the system.

To date, over $22 million has been invested to support the development and redesign of high-quality shared online courses and modules that will be available to students in the 2015–2016 academic year.

Student Financial Support

Through a variety of loans, grants and bursaries and a new postsecondary tuition framework, the government will ensure that every qualified student will be able to pursue a postsecondary education.

The 30% Off Ontario Tuition grant, introduced in 2012, helps to keep the cost of postsecondary education affordable for low and middle-income students and their families. The grant is indexed to reflect tuition increases.

In 2014–2015, eligible students in a university or college degree program saved $1,780 on tuition, while eligible students in college diploma and certificate programs saved $820. For the 2013–2014 academic year, almost 230,000 college and university students had their tuition costs reduced by 30%.

Other improvements made to student financial aid in 2014–2015 include:

  • expanding eligibility for the 100% Tuition Aid and Ontario Access Grant for Crown Wards to 6 years for students with permanent disabilities to align with the 30% Off Ontario Tuition grant
  • partnering with 31 participating institutions (11 colleges and 20 universities) to deliver the 100% Tuition Aid for Youth Leaving Care program
  • launching the Ontario Student Loan Rehabilitation Program in January 2015, a new initiative that allows past borrowers who defaulted on the Ontario portion of their student loan to bring their loan back into good standing

Highlights of Ontario’s student financial assistance program include:

  • Ontario issued more than $1.3 billion in grants and loans in 2013–2014, including the 30% Off Ontario Tuition grant
  • the government spent about $400 million on up-front grants and bursaries to improve access to postsecondary education
  • more than 380,000 students — more than half of all full-time students — received student financial aid in 2013–2014, including the 30% Off Ontario Tuition grant
  • investments in student financial aid over the past 12 years have resulted in more than double the number of students qualifying for aid, while enrolment has increased by 38%
  • Ontario’s Student Access Guarantee ensures qualified students in need have access to resources to pay for tuition, books and mandatory fees. Institutional aid issued under the Student Access Guarantee is issued automatically to qualifying students without an additional application
  • the Ontario portion of all OSAP loans is interest free and payment free during studies and for the first 6 months after graduation for all graduates, and 1 year for those graduates who work in the not-for-profit sector, choose to start their own business, or volunteer for the 2015 Pan/Parapan Am Games
  • borrowers who experience difficulty repaying their student loans can apply for the Repayment Assistance Plan. Participants in the plan are not required to pay more than 20% of their family income towards their loans. The plan also ensures debt is reduced to zero within 15 years or within 10 years for students with a permanent disability

Supporting Mental Health

Ontario is investing $27 million over 3 years to provide new mental health services and supports to postsecondary education students. This funding includes support for 12 new Mental Health Innovation Fund projects, announced in January 2015. These projects focus on Aboriginal student mental health, addictions and the mental health issues of students in transition from secondary to postsecondary studies.

In total, Ontario is supporting 32 projects at colleges and universities that will improve access to high-quality mental health services, help identify mental health issues and connect students to supports faster.

Ontario also continues to support Good2Talk, a bilingual, province-wide service that operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The helpline serves about 1,000 students a month. The service is delivered by Kids Help Phone, ConnexOntario, 211 Ontario, the Ontario Centre for Excellence in Child and Youth Mental Health with the participation of postsecondary institutions. By March 31, 2015, Good2Talk/Allo J'Écoute had responded to 23,335 calls (58% from university students, 21% from college students).

Improving Access to French-Language Postsecondary Education

Ontario has increased funding for French-language postsecondary education by over 75% since 2003–2004. This includes ongoing investments in the Greater Toronto Area to help universities and colleges expand their French-language programs and services, including $5 million in 2014–2015.

In 2015, the government also reaffirmed its commitment to ensure continued access to French-language agricultural education and training in eastern Ontario.

Supporting Aboriginal Students

The government is committed to providing accessible, high-quality education for all Aboriginal learners. The government released the Aboriginal Postsecondary Education and Training Policy Framework in 2011, a plan to close the education attainment gap for Aboriginal learners and enhance the learning experience of Aboriginal students.

In 2014–2015, Ontario continued to provide funding to support the goals of the Framework, including $30.5 million in 2014–2015 through the Postsecondary Education Fund for Aboriginal Learners.

In 2014–2015, all 24 colleges, 20 universities, 9 Aboriginal postsecondary education and training institutes, as well as Aboriginal community organizations, training service delivery agents and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, received supports to fund projects that are aligned with the goals set out in the Framework.

In 2013–2014:

  • 1,203 Aboriginal learners with financial need received support through the bursaries
  • approximately 16,036 Aboriginal learners attended Ontario colleges and universities– a 9% increase from 2009–2010
  • approximately 1000 learners attended Aboriginal Postsecondary Education and Training Institutes

Increasing Access and Opportunities for Ontario’s Under-represented Groups

Ontario continues to support 21 Crown Ward Championship Teams to help at-risk youth graduate from high school and pursue postsecondary education, training and employment.

Starting in 2013–2014, the government increased financial aid for Crown wards and youth leaving the care of Children’s Aid Societies by partnering with all Ontario universities and 10 colleges to jointly cover 100% of their tuition fees, up to a maximum of $6,000 per year. A Living and Learning grant of $500 per month is now provided to youth aged 21 to 24 enrolled full-time in OSAP eligible programs.

Ontario also provides $9.5 million every year to support Pathways to Education. The program provides support to help young people from economically disadvantaged communities stay in high school, graduate and move on to postsecondary programs.

In 2013–2014, Ontario also launched 2 new pilot projects and a website to help students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to choose, apply for and succeed in postsecondary education. The website helps students with ASD and students with other disabilities find information to help them make the transition into college or university. The pilot projects are working with local school boards to develop tools and resources to support students with ASD as they transition from high school to postsecondary education. The pilots may offer opportunities such as summer orientation on campus and in residence, workshops for students and their parents, and a program on how to manage time, responsibilities and studies. Faculty will also benefit from new tools, tip sheets and teaching strategies.

Graduate Spaces

The government is adding roughly 2,200 additional graduate spaces to the system over the Strategic Mandate Agreement period (up to and including 2016–2017). Additional allocations of graduate spaces will be allocated through future Strategic Mandate Agreement discussions ensuring a strong link to the Differentiation Policy Framework.

Private Career Colleges

Reforms for private career colleges are improving student protection and oversight in the sector. In July 2013, the ministry began to collect the data required to calculate and publish Key Performance Indicators for vocational programs provided at OSAP-approved private career colleges. In fall 2016, this initiative will be extended to all private career colleges in Ontario. Key Performance Indicators will help students make informed choices and improve quality and accountability in the sector. The ministry is providing incentives to improve student outcomes by tightening criteria for OSAP eligibility. Also, eligibility for the 30% Off Ontario Tuition grant was extended to private career college students in January 2014.

In February 2015, the Superintendent of Private Career Colleges issued a notice to suspend and a proposal to revoke the registration of Everest Colleges Canada Inc., one of the province’s largest registered private career colleges. In March 2015, Ontario announced that it was providing up to $7.6 million to help students affected by the closure of the college.

In 2016, Ontario will be reviewing the Private Career Colleges Act, 2005, and regulations made under the act.

Performance Indicators

To better inform students about their future career options and ensure greater accountability, the government continues to require postsecondary education institutions to better track outcomes for students over time and report on career success rates among graduates. For example, in 2013–2014, the ministry released more detailed information on university graduate employment rates and average salaries, as well as the relatedness of their employment to their studies. The ministry will also release indicators for private career colleges for the first time in 2015–2016.

Awards

Each year, Ontario presents awards to acknowledge the contributions of outstanding graduates, researchers and leaders.

The Premier’s Awards recognize the social and economic contribution college graduates make to the province and throughout the world. The recipients of the 2014 Premier’s Awards are:

  • Recent Graduate: Candice Ekonomakos, Humber College
  • Recent Graduate: Chief Georjann Morriseau, Confederation College
  • Technology: Dr. James Forbes, Sheridan College
  • Creative Arts and Design: Tibor Madjar, Sheridan College
  • Health Sciences: Captain Rebecca Patterson, Niagara College
  • Business: Peter van Stralen, Humber College
  • Community Service: Jessica Lynn Whitbread, George Brown College
  • Dr. Howard Rundle, president emeritus of Fanshawe College, was also recognized in 2014 with the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities' annual Lifetime Achievement Award for his outstanding contributions to Ontario’s college system

Each year, Polanyi Prizes are awarded to 5 researchers who are in the early stages of their careers and pursuing post-doctoral research at an Ontario university. Recipients of the Polanyi Prize represent Ontario’s next generation of innovators, who will help drive economic development, commercial success and social progress.

The 2014 recipients are:

  • Dr. William Bennett of the University of Waterloo for chemistry
  • Dr. Rahul Deb of the University of Toronto for economic science
  • Dr. Andrea Charise of the University of Toronto for literature
  • Dr. Eduardo Martin-Martinez of the University of Waterloo for physics
  • Dr. Jennifer Brunet of the University of Ottawa for physiology/medicine

Employment and Training

In the area of employment and training, the ministry develops policy direction for employment services, apprenticeship, labour market programs and information and foundational skills. The ministry manages and funds provincial services and programs for employment training and preparation, including adult literacy and basic skills, and undertakes labour market research and planning. The ministry works with the Ontario College of Trades to set the parameters for its governance of the apprenticeship and skilled trades sector, and directly administers several programs to support apprentices, employers and training providers.

The 2014 Fall Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review announced Ontario’s commitment to developing a comprehensive Labour Market Information Strategy to improve access to high-quality labour market information. This will support government, institutions, students, families and employers as they make important decisions about education, training and hiring.

In 2014–2015, the ministry invested almost $1.2 million to expand Ryerson University’s online career matching network, Magnet, to 15 colleges and universities across Ontario to help businesses recruit qualified students and graduates for jobs in their field The ministry also modernized its online publication Ontario Job Futures by launching a new responsive web design format allowing users to easily search for labour market information on about 200 occupations.

Increasing Ontario’s Skilled Workforce

Ontario’s skilled workforce is one of its greatest advantages. Through Employment Ontario’s employment, apprenticeship, literacy and labour market programs, the province continues to invest in its people to help them compete globally and meet the demands of a rapidly changing economy.

Ontario is moving forward with its plan to integrate employment and training services across government with Employment Ontario, to deliver results where need is greatest. This will provide several benefits to individuals and employers, including improved referrals and assessments for job seekers, better linkages to services such as social assistance and bridge training, and customized workplace training programs tailored to industry needs.

The 2014 Budget affirmed the government’s commitment to integrating government-wide employment and training programs and services into Employment Ontario. This will give individuals and employers easier and better access to the services that meet their needs — whether it is training to improve skills, opportunities to gain work experience, or strategies and tools to recruit local talent.

The province is committed to delivering on initiatives under employment and training services integration to modernize and transform the system. The ministry is exploring concrete options to:

  • put in place a common assessment framework, using a “distance from the labour market approach”, to ensure individuals in search of training or employment get the supports they need to access the right services
  • establish a new Ontario Centre for Workforce Innovation that will drive innovation and evidence-based service delivery across the province
  • pilot Local Employment Planning Councils to support strategic engagement of employers and other community actors in local workforce planning, and develop and improve the quality, analysis and application of local market information
  • develop a comprehensive Labour Market Information Strategy to improve access to labour market information and make it easier for job seekers to make informed decisions about their education, training and careers
  • explore how best to support youth employment after the Youth Employment Fund ends

Employment Ontario

Employment Ontario invests in infrastructure, employer tax credits, loans, employment and training programs and services for Ontarians. In recent years, Employment Ontario has created a one-stop service where people can find a full range of employment and training programs to help them find and keep a job.

Employment Ontario investments of more than $1 billion in 2014–2015 helped Ontarians access a wide range of employment and training services.

In 2014–2015, Employment Ontario served approximately 1 million Ontarians who are unemployed and seeking employment through a range of employment services including:

  • job seekers, such as laid-off workers, who benefit from skills training and other employment and career planning services
  • workers, apprentices, newcomers and youth who benefit from access to life-long learning
  • more than 150,000 employers have used the network to find workers with the skills they need

As well, in January 2015, a Live Chat tool was launched on the Employment Ontario section of the ministry website so that job seekers, employers and other individuals can engage in real-time conversation about training programs and services with employees of the Employment Ontario Contact Centre.

In 2014–2015, key Employment Ontario programs helped:

  • more than 26,000 Ontarians register for training in the skilled trades as an apprentice
  • over 123,000 students find summer jobs and services through Ontario Summer Jobs
  • more than 43,000 learners through the Literacy and Basic Skills Program
  • more than 676,000 Ontarians look for a job through Employment Service
  • more than 9,000 Ontarians through Second Career funding
  • more than 21,000 laid-off workers plan their return to the labour market through the Rapid Re-Employment and Training Service

The Canada-Ontario Job Fund Agreement, signed by the government of Ontario and Canada in March 2014, is a source of funding for employer-driven training initiatives such as the Canada-Ontario Job Grant (COJG). The new program began accepting employer applications in September 2014.

Recognizing that there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to training and skills needs of the labour market, the Ministry initiated an Expression of Interest process for 2 new employer-focused skills training pilot programs under the COJG in September 2014, UpSkill and Customized Training.

  • The COJG: UpSkill pilot will support sector-focused skills training by funding partnerships between employers and post-secondary institutions to develop and implement sector-specific, integrated essential and technical skills training for employees.
  • The COJG: Customized Training pilot will support firm-specific skills training, in recognition of employers’ need for flexible programming.

In addition, Ontario has worked with the Government of Canada to ensure that the new agreement will continue to support Ontarians who are further from the labour market. This includes immigrants, social assistance recipients, persons with disabilities, older workers, Aboriginal persons, and youth, all of whom are important priorities for Employment Ontario programs.

The new Canada-Ontario Job Grant was launched in 2014–2015 to encourage more employers to support existing or new employees in obtaining the skills required to fill and succeed in available jobs. Support from the Canada-Ontario Job Grant is providing training for more than 9,000 Ontario workers.

Youth Employment Fund

Recognizing the need to address youth unemployment, the 2013 Ontario budget announced a comprehensive Youth Jobs Strategy, providing an investment of $295 million over 2 years to help 30,000 young people. This strategy included a $195 million investment in the Ontario Youth Employment Fund, launched in September 2013 and delivered through the Employment Ontario Employment Service network.

In 2014–2015, the fund surpassed its 2-year target of providing 25,000 job placements for Ontario youth, and 85% of participants were either retained by their employer or went on to other employment.

In 2014, the government extended the Youth Employment Fund to continue supporting clients until September 2015.

Combined with existing programs, there are more than 30 Ontario government youth employment programs, including 3 other core Youth Jobs Strategy funds, and summer jobs programs, such as the ministry’s Summer Jobs Service.

Employment Service

Employment Service provides a one-stop service delivery model to better meeting the needs of job seekers, employers and Ontario communities. Services are delivered through a network of 171 service providers at over 320 funded service delivery sites.

Second Career

In response to the global economic downturn, the government created Second Career in 2008 to help unemployed, laid-off workers train for a new career. The program offers unemployed, laid-off workers up to $28,000 in support for tuition, books, transportation and other training related expenses to help them participate in training and is one of a broad number of programs offered through Ontario’s integrated employment and training network, Employment Ontario. It has helped more than 85,000 Ontarians participate in training since the start of the program.

A survey shows 80% of Second Career students found jobs within 1 year of graduation. Also, overall, more than 95% of Second Career clients responded that skills training helped them with their future employment.

Literacy and Basic Skills

Strong literacy skills can result in higher income, lower unemployment and greater independence for the people of Ontario.

The government invests in the knowledge and skills of Ontarians to ensure maximum opportunities for success. The Literacy and Basic Skills program addresses the government’s multi-year priority to increase talent and skills among Ontarians.

The program is delivered by over 200 organizations at over 300 sites across the province, including colleges, school boards and community-based organizations.

The Literacy and Basic Skills program helped more than 43,000 learners in 2014–2015, with 70% of exiting learners going on to further education and employment.

Apprenticeship and Skilled Trades Training

Apprenticeship training is a key part of building the well-educated and highly skilled workforce the province needs to compete in the current and future economy. The Ontario government allocated approximately $164.5 million for investments in Ontario’s apprenticeship system for 2014–2015, through programs that offer support to both apprentices and employers, support for capital upgrades and equipment, and loans to apprentices for tools and equipment.

The province also recognizes the importance of supporting apprentices to complete their programs and obtain certification. Supports and incentives include:

  • bonuses for both apprentices and employers when training is successfully completed
  • opportunities for apprentices to complete more of their in-school training up front if work placements are temporarily unavailable
  • examination preparation courses to assist apprentices in preparing for trade certification exams
  • income supports to help apprentices with the costs associated with attending school

Ontario has significantly expanded the apprenticeship system. Results include:

  • an increase of new annual apprenticeship registrations from 17,000 in 2002–2003 to more than 26,500 in 2014–2015
  • an average of 10,400 Certificates of Apprenticeship have been issued annually over the past 4 years
  • currently, 24 colleges and 44 union- or employer-sponsored centres are providing training for more than 150 trades in 4 sectors
  • as a part of the ongoing review of business support programs, the government continues to review the effectiveness and efficiency of the Ontario Apprenticeship Training Tax Credit to improve completion rates among eligible trades

The Ontario College of Trades — an industry-driven governing body for the province’s apprenticeship and skilled trades system — opened its doors to members in April 2013. By consulting and engaging with its members, as well as conducting reviews of apprenticeship ratios and trade classification, the college will continue to demonstrate industry leadership for the trades and apprenticeship — balancing the needs of employers, employees, apprentices, the economy and the public.

By protecting standards of training and quality of work, the College of Trades helps skilled workers keep pace with changes and ensures the public benefits from highly skilled work. The college’s workplace enforcement program protects certified skilled workers and apprentices from unfair competition.

In October 2014, the government appointed Tony Dean, former Secretary of Cabinet and Head of the Ontario Public Service, to review of key areas of Ontario’s skilled trades system that fall within the mandate of the Ontario College of Trades. Mr. Dean’s review will be complete by October 2015.

Table 3: Ministry Interim Actual Expenditures 2014–2015footnote 6

Expenditure TypeAmount
Operating ($M)7,349.9
Capital ($M)391.8
Staff Strengthfootnote 7 (as of March 31, 2015)1,136.8