Posts Tagged ‘budget’

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Ontario got two things right with post-secondary funding — and one thing very wrong

Saturday, February 21st, 2026

Increasing tuition and provincial funding will improve the financial conditions facing colleges and universities. However, shifting OSAP from majority grants to loans will make it harder for students, particularly those most economically disadvantaged, to attend, persist, and graduate. There are other, more equitable pathways forward. 

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Doug Ford’s changes to university funding is good news for universities and terrible news for poor students

Wednesday, February 18th, 2026

Ontario will still be tenth out of ten provinces for per-student funding. But Thursday’s announcement will bring public funding back roughly to its previous all-time high of about $8.5 billion per year. Some of the $5.3 billion is genuinely new. But over 50 per cent of the new money going to universities and colleges is being reallocated from within the Ministry — specifically, by taking about $700 million/year away from… OSAP

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Doug Ford has learned a hard lesson after starving Ontario’s colleges and universities

Thursday, February 12th, 2026

This week’s boost will not come close to making colleges and universities whole, but a half loaf is better than the premier’s half-baked ideas on postsecondary funding. Tuition can now rise by up to two per cent a year, but for too long the government ignored the initial five per cent increase recommended by its own blue ribbon panel in 2023, alongside fresh funding.

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Ontario lifts tuition freeze, unveils OSAP reforms as it adds billions to university and college funding

Thursday, February 12th, 2026

The province is pouring $6.4 billion into colleges and universities over the next four years, and also lifting its tuition freeze, allowing small increases in the coming years… While the province had boosted post-secondary operating funds for 2025-26 to more than $5 billion — an eight per cent increase over the prior year — it remained the lowest per student of any province.

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Provinces need to own their responsibility for expanding low-fee child care

Wednesday, February 4th, 2026

The most recent data shows eight of ten provinces will miss the federal goal of having 5.9 child care spaces per 10 children. Only two provinces have that level of access: Quebec and P.E.I… The rest of the provinces weren’t even paying half the cost of their child care programs—they coasted on federal investments… In fact, many of the provinces who have been loudly complaining that the CWELCC program is “too expensive” are also the ones who are paying the least for it.

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We’re already facing the consequences of two-tier health care. Doug Ford is opening the door to make it even worse

Tuesday, January 20th, 2026

… the door is now wide open to a major expansion of for-profit health care thanks to Ontario’s Bill 60. The bill contains no obvious limits on outsourcing publicly funded health services to the private sector… While reducing wait times is a goal we all share, funding private, for-profit expansion while publicly funded operating rooms sit underused and nurses remain unavailable is not the solution.

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Blame Doug Ford, not international students, for the catastrophe facing Ontario colleges and universities

Tuesday, December 16th, 2025

… years of underfunding, mismanagement and neglect, colleges and universities across the province are slashing programs and cutting jobs… the harm may become irrevocable. Even in the best case, it will take years, and perhaps decades, to repair the damage already done… postsecondary education is a provincial responsibility…

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4 things you need to know about health care in the federal budget

Monday, December 8th, 2025

Nearly $400 million in cuts to health… No plan to expand pharmacare… $5 billion for buildings – but no plan for health care workers… Cuts to refugee health care… “The affordability crisis is worsening, and Canadians need to know health care will be there when they need it most.

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Claims of a doctor shortage oversimplifies the issues with health care

Sunday, December 7th, 2025

Sustaining universal access to care will require governments to face the demographic reality driving medical demand; update revenues so financially secure boomers contribute in line with their costs; overhaul staffing incentives; and reinvest in the social and ecological foundations of health.

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Auditor’s report slams Ford government over health care

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2025

Premier Doug Ford’s government is ailing on health care by failing to get more Ontarians a family doctor, ensure prompt appointments and oversee OHIP billings… “the ministry, in conjunction with Ontario Health, did not consistently have processes in place to plan and oversee programs and initiatives to improve patients’ access to primary care” the report said.

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