Ontario is investing $101 million to fund 5,260 additional seats at York University, expanding student access to programs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, health and education as the province seeks to address labour shortages and strengthen its workforce.
The new York University spaces form part of Ontario’s broader $1.7 billion investment to create more than 70,000 additional postsecondary seats in high-demand fields. Students will begin accessing some of the newly funded spaces as early as the fall 2026 academic year.
York University Receives $101 Million for Seat Expansion
The provincial funding will support 3,814 additional seats in STEM programs, 748 in health programs and 698 in education programs.
The government said the expansion is intended to connect more students with careers experiencing strong labour demand while providing employers with a larger pool of trained graduates.
“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 $1.7 billion seat expansion forms part of Ontario’s wider $6.4 billion investment in the postsecondary sector. The province says its new funding model will eventually raise annual operating funding for colleges, universities and Indigenous Institutes to $7 billion.
York Says Funding Will Expand Access for Ontario Students
York University said the additional funding would help prepare graduates for occupations including nursing, social work, engineering and teaching.
“York University welcomes the Government of Ontario’s investment in new postsecondary seats,” said Lisa Philipps, Interim President and Vice Chancellor, York University. “At a time of real uncertainty beyond our borders, Canadians are focused on building our own strength and looking after one another. This investment does exactly that. It opens doors for more Ontario students and prepares the nurses, social workers, engineers, teachers and innovators our communities are counting on. York is ready to do our part. We thank Minister Quinn and the government for this commitment to Ontario’s students and our shared future.”
Ontario initially announced the allocation of 30,000 additional seats in May 2026 and subsequently launched a call for proposals covering another 40,000 spaces. Institutions were asked to identify programs based on regional economic conditions, labour-market requirements, institutional capacity and student demand.
The ministry said it received more than 1,000 letters from employers supporting additional spaces in high-demand programs.
Businesses Point to Ontario Skills Shortages
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce said expanding postsecondary capacity could help companies facing difficulties recruiting workers with specialized skills.
“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 of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, made the statement in support of the announcement.
The government has positioned the broader expansion as part of its response to tariffs and economic uncertainty.
“In the face of tariffs and economic uncertainty, we need to invest in our greatest competitive advantage: our people. After announcing a plan to build Ontario’s first medical school focused on training family doctors with the York University School of Medicine in Vaughan, we’re funding 70,000 new postsecondary seats, including over 5,200 at York University, to train more young people for good-paying careers in STEM, healthcare, and education,” said Stephen Lecce, MPP for King-Vaughan.
Vaughan Area Expected to Benefit From New Seats
Local representatives said the York University expansion could give more students in Vaughan and surrounding communities opportunities to study for careers with strong employment demand.
“Expanding access to high-demand postsecondary programs is an important investment in the future of our students, our communities and our economy. By creating more opportunities for students to pursue careers in fields such as health care, STEM, and education, we are helping build the skilled workforce Ontario needs to grow and remain competitive. I’m pleased to see this investment creating new opportunities for students here in Vaughan-Woodbridge. Our universities play an important role in preparing the next generation for rewarding careers, while helping employers find the skilled workers they need to succeed,” said Michael Tibollo, MPP for Vaughan-Woodbridge.
“This investment means more students in our community can study closer to home and build the skills they need for the future. Our government is preparing students for in-demand careers across Ontario while continuing to build the skilled workforce our province relies on,” said Laura Smith, MPP for Thornhill.
Ontario has also allocated $57 million to Indigenous Institutes under the broader funding model, including $33 million intended to expand capacity by up to 780 seats in in-demand programs.
The York University expansion represents one component of the province’s effort to align postsecondary enrolment more closely with labour-market demand, particularly in STEM, health care and education.