Ontario Funding More Than 6,400 Additional Seats in London to Prepare Students for In-Demand Careers

Province’s $1.7 billion investment funding more than 70,000 additional seats in STEM, health care, education and trades

The Voice of Canada

Ontario government has invested $205 million to fund 6,437 additional seats at Western University and Fanshawe College to connect more students to good-paying, in-demand careers. This allocation, which is part of a broader $1.7 billion investment to support a total of 70,000 new seats, supports the province’s plan to protect Ontario and build a more competitive economy by continuing to develop a world-class workforce. The high-demand areas that are receiving additional seats at Western University and Fanshawe College include programs in STEM, education, health, trades and other labour-market driven programs, with seats available for student enrollment as early as the fall 2026 academic year.

“Our province’s greatest strength is our highly skilled workforce – and those workers are trained at our world-class colleges and universities,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “This investment is supporting the largest seat expansion in Ontario in more than a decade and will ensure more students have the opportunity to train for good-paying careers that protect and strengthen our communities, industries and province.”

This investment is part of the government’s historic $6.4 billion investment in the postsecondary sector, which includes $1.7 billion to fund a total of more than 70,000 additional postsecondary seats in high-demand sectors at publicly assisted colleges and universities. This seat expansion is the largest postsecondary seat expansion in more than a decade and is aimed at helping the province stand up to tariffs and economic uncertainty by building a highly skilled workforce to support the most competitive economy in the G7.

The allocation of the first 30,000 seats was announced in May 2026, at which time a call for proposals was launched for the remaining 40,000 new seats. Colleges and universities worked with their local communities and industries to identify programs that will prepare students for in-demand jobs and meet regional labour market needs. Ontario evaluated proposals based on institutional capacity, local industry needs and student demand to ensure the greatest impact on workforce development and economic growth.

The 5,013 newly funded seats at Western University include:

• 3,515 seats for STEM programs
• 1,117 seats for health programs
• 298 seats for education programs
• 83 seats for other, labour-market driven programs

The 1,424 newly funded seats at Fanshawe College include:

• 591 seats for health programs
• 360 seats for trades programs
• 341 seats for education programs
• 132 seats for STEM programs

“Western University welcomes the Ontario Government’s investment in the next generation of leaders announced by the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security,” said Alan Shepard, President and Vice-Chancellor, Western University, “This funding responds to the needs of our region and will help ensure Western can continue delivering exceptional education in health care, education, engineering, science and technology, preparing the skilled professionals Ontario needs to strengthen its economy and serve communities across the province. Ontario’s universities have the talent, drive, and capacity to shape the future of the province through our graduates, researchers, and close partnerships with community and industry. We look forward to continuing to work together to build a stronger Ontario.”

“Colleges are a critical talent pipeline for the sectors driving Ontario’s economy, training more than half of workers in areas facing labour shortages,” said Peter Devlin, President, Fanshawe College. “Our employer and community partners are counting on Fanshawe to help meet their growing workforce needs. This investment gives us an opportunity to expand access to programs that will help protect Ontario’s future by ensuring we have the skilled workforce we need to build, care for and grow our communities.”

This expansion at Western University and Fanshawe College will ensure students in London can access the education they need to launch rewarding, in-demand careers, while ensuring Ontario’s world-class institutions can continue producing one of the most competitive workforces in the G7 for generations to come.

Quick Facts

• Through the call for proposals, publicly assisted colleges and universities submitted a Priority Growth Plan to the government that reflects their school’s strengths, regional economic trends, local labour market needs, and student demand.
• The ministry received over 1,000 letters of support from employers who endorse the expansion of seats across in-demand programs at their local institution.
• Programs in STEM, health care, trades and education produce graduates who have higher rates of employment in related fields, earn higher wages and drive key sectors of the economy.
• Through Budget 2025, Ontario invested nearly a billion dollars into publicly assisted colleges and universities to fund over 100,000 more seats in programs that produce graduates to meet Ontario’s labour market demands such as teaching, nursing, STEM, and skilled trades.
• Ontario’s new $6.4 billion funding model will raise annual operating funding at colleges, universities, and Indigenous Institutes to $7 billion, a 30 per cent increase and the highest level in the province’s history.
• As part of its $6.4 billion new funding model, Ontario is also investing a historic $57 million into Indigenous Institutes, including $33 million to expand up to 780 seats for in-demand programs.

Quotes

“At the Ontario Chamber, we hear every day from businesses facing skills shortages. Strengthening Ontario’s talent pipeline is critical to our competitiveness and today’s investment will help ensure employers can find the skilled workers they need to grow.”

• Daniel Tisch
  President and CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce

“By investing in students, we are investing in Ontario’s future. Building a workforce with the right skillsets and competencies is crucial as we strive to ensure Ontario continues to be a place where patients can get timely access to healthcare, homeowners can quickly access help in the event of an HVAC emergency, and businesses are well-equipped to grow. Here in London, we are fortunate to have two postsecondary institutions that are preparing students for success in a range of high-demand careers. This funding will make training more accessible, creating opportunities for growth and development that will ultimately serve to build a stronger Ontario.”

• Rob Flack
  MPP for Elgin–Middlesex–London

“Investing in postsecondary education is an investment in Ontario’s future. By expanding access to education at Western University and Fanshawe College, our government is creating more opportunities for students to develop the skills needed to succeed in high-demand careers. This investment will help address labour market demands, support local employers and ensure our communities have the skilled workforce they need to grow and thrive for generations to come.”

• Matthew Rae
  MPP for Perth–Wellington

“Making sure our students have the opportunity to get the education and training they need is important for the future of Ontario. Our colleges and universities do a great job preparing students for the workforce, and this investment will help more people train for good-paying jobs while helping employers find the skilled workers they need. That’s good news for our students, our businesses and our communities.”

• Ernie Hardeman
  MPP for Oxford