The Ontario government has invested $32 million to fund 1,971 additional seats at Humber Polytechnic to connect more students to good-paying, in-demand careers. This allocation, which is part of a broader $1.7 billion investment to support more than 70,000 new seats, advances 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 Humber include programs in health care, STEM and trades, with seats available for student enrollment as early as the fall 2026 academic year.
"As part of our plan to build a stronger, more competitive and more self-reliant Ontario economy, we're investing record amounts to train students for good-paying careers in high-demand fields," said Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario. "At Humber Polytechnic, we're adding nearly 2,000 additional seats in health care, STEM and skilled trades programs to build a workforce that's ready for the future and makes our province more competitive."
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 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.
"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."
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 1,971 newly funded seats at Humber Polytechnic include:
- 1,187 seats for health care programs
- 428 seats for STEM programs
- 356 seats for trades programs.
"This investment will help Ontario meet current and future workforce needs by expanding access to education in high-demand fields. At Humber Polytechnic, our work is focused on advancing productivity, responding to labour market demands and executing a forward-looking vision that prepares learners and industry for the future," said Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan, President and CEO, Humber Polytechnic. "Together with our industry, government and community partners, we are strengthening the talent pipeline and building the innovation capacity Ontario needs to compete and thrive."
This expansion at Humber Polytechnic will ensure students in Toronto 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.
Additional Resources
- Ontario Investing $6.4 Billion to Support Postsecondary Sector's Long-Term Success and Sustainability
- Ontario Investing $1.7 Billion to Prepare More Students for In-Demand Careers
- Ontario Investing $57 Million to Support Indigenous Postsecondary Institutes' Long-Term Success and Sustainability
- Learn about colleges, universities and Indigenous Institutes in Ontario
