The Ontario government has invested $15 million to fund 1,312 additional seats at Lakehead University and Confederation 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 Lakehead University and Confederation College include programs in STEM, health, education, and trades, with seats available for student enrollment as early as the fall 2026 academic year.
"Amid global economic uncertainty, our government is taking decisive action to strengthen and protect Ontario's pipeline of highly skilled workers," said Lorne Coe, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. "This seat expansion will ensure that more students can get the world-class education they need to launch good-paying careers while driving Thunder Bay's and Ontario's economic growth for generations to come."
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.
"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 1,062 newly funded seats at Lakehead University include:
- 830 seats for STEM programs
- 225 seats for education programs
- 7 seats for health programs
The 250 newly funded seats at Confederation College include:
- 132 seats for health programs
- 73 seats for trades programs
- 45 seats for STEM programs
"This investment is great news for students in Thunder Bay and across Northwestern Ontario, providing more opportunities to pursue postsecondary education and build rewarding careers close to home," said Kevin Holland, MPP for Thunder Bay-Atikokan. "By expanding access to programs that respond to the needs of our local industries, we are helping prepare the next generation of skilled workers while supporting the long-term economic growth of our region."
This expansion at Lakehead University and Confederation College will ensure students in Thunder Bay 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
"Lakehead University welcomes this incredible investment. Increasing capacity ensures that more students can receive the education, skills, and hands-on experiences they need to learn, build their lives, and pursue meaningful careers in the communities that need them - right here in Northwestern Ontario, Central Ontario, and across the province. These new seats will help Lakehead respond directly to regional labour market needs while preparing graduates in areas that are critical to Ontario's future economic growth and prosperity."
- Dr. Gillian Siddall, President and Vice Chancellor, Lakehead University
"We appreciate Ontario's investment in programs that prepare learners for in-demand careers across Northwestern Ontario. This approval supports new capacity in aviation, electrical and nursing programs and provides funding for existing nursing capacity. We look forward to continuing our work with the province to advance additional partnership opportunities and support access to training closer to home for learners across the region."
- Michelle Salo, President, Confederation College
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
