The Ontario government has invested $76 million to fund 3,586 additional seats at Brock University and Niagara 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 Brock University and Niagara College include programs in STEM, health, trades and education, 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 2,565 newly funded seats at Brock University include:
- 1,183 seats for STEM programs
- 801 seats for health programs
- 581 seats for education programs
The 1,021 newly funded seats at Niagara College include:
- 346 seats for health programs
- 263 seats for trades programs
- 230 seats for STEM programs
- 182 seats for education programs
"From the shores of Lake Ontario, Brock University applauds the Ontario government's investment in new postsecondary seats that enables us to strategically grow our STEM and applied health programs to develop world-class graduates that serve local community and regional workforce needs and fill in-demand careers," said Dr. Lesley Rigg, President & Vice-Chancellor, Brock University. "This investment comes at an important time in helping the province stand up to Protect Ontario in building a highly skilled workforce and enhancing Brock's capacity to drive economic growth and prosperity in Niagara and beyond."
"We're grateful to the Ontario government and Minister Quinn for recognizing the important role that Ontario's colleges play in building a highly skilled workforce that will fuel economic growth in our communities and across our province," said Sean Kennedy, President, Niagara College. "The Ontario government's $1.7 billion investment through the Priority Growth Fund will significantly enhance our ability to address critical shortages in key sectors here in Niagara and beyond."
This expansion at Brock University and Niagara College will ensure students in Niagara 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
"This increase in high-demand postsecondary seats at Brock University and Niagara College will help prepare students in our region for the jobs of tomorrow. This unprecedented investment of $76 million in our region is part of the largest seat expansion in the province in more than a decade and will help protect Ontario by training the next generation of leaders in science, technology, engineering and math - as well as health care and the skilled trades - as they enter the workforce."
- Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West
"The funding for the Niagara Region allows more students the opportunity to gain the valuable skills required to obtain high demand careers, such as health care, trades, and education. This will help strengthen our economy, making Ontario the best place to live, work and grow."
- Will Bouma, MPP for Brantford-Brant
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
