Ontario is investing $205 million to add more than 7,500 postsecondary seats at three Ottawa institutions, expanding training capacity in areas including science and technology, health care, education and skilled trades as the province seeks to address labour-market demand.
The funding will support 7,574 additional seats at the University of Ottawa, Carleton University and Collège La Cité, with enrolment in some of the expanded programs beginning as early as the fall 2026 academic year.
Ottawa Expansion Part of $1.7 Billion Provincial Investment
The Ottawa allocation forms part of a broader $1.7 billion provincial investment aimed at creating more than 70,000 additional postsecondary seats across Ontario in high-demand fields.
The initiative is included in Ontario’s $6.4 billion investment in the postsecondary sector and represents what the government describes as the province’s largest expansion of postsecondary seats in more than a decade.
“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.”
Ontario said the expansion is intended to strengthen its workforce amid tariffs and broader economic uncertainty, while directing more students toward occupations experiencing sustained demand.
University of Ottawa Receives Largest Share of New Seats
The University of Ottawa will receive funding for 4,128 additional seats, including 2,494 in STEM programs, 1,319 in health programs and 315 in education.
“The University of Ottawa applauds Premier Doug Ford, Minister Nolan Quinn and the Ontario government’s investment in 40,000 new student seats, strengthening the talent pipeline that drives economic competitiveness and prosperity,” said Marie-Eve Sylvestre, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Ottawa. “As Canada’s only bilingual research-intensive university, uOttawa is proud to work with industry, government and postsecondary partners in both official languages to develop the talent, discoveries and ideas that will power Ontario’s future.”
Carleton University will receive funding for 2,328 additional seats. That total includes 1,220 STEM seats, 281 health seats and 827 places in other programs tied to labour-market needs.
“We are grateful to the Government of Ontario for investing in Carleton University’s students and the future of our province,” said Wisdom Tettey, President and Vice-Chancellor of Carleton University. “Carleton has a long history of preparing students to turn knowledge into impact, from engineering and computer science to emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and data science. This expansion will enable us to create opportunities for more students to access our world class education; grow and strengthen the talented workforce necessary for Ontario’s competitiveness, economic growth, and prosperity; and build mutually flourishing communities that promote inclusive impact.”
Collège La Cité Expansion Includes Trades and Health Programs
Collège La Cité will add 1,118 funded seats, including 276 in STEM, 272 in health, 178 in education and 163 in trades. Another 229 seats will be directed to other labour-market-focused programs.
“This announcement underscores the importance of connecting education and training with the realities of our communities and the evolving demands of the labour market,” said Dr. Lynn Casimiro, President and CEO, Collège La Cité. “At La Cité, we are proud to contribute to this important investment and support this priority by providing authentic, hands-on, work-integrated learning that prepares students with the skills and experience to succeed in today’s economy. As Ontario’s largest French-language college, we also have an important role to play in strengthening the province’s bilingual workforce and supporting a skilled, resilient workforce that contributes to economic growth across Ontario.”
Province Targets Regional Labour-Market Needs
Ontario announced the first 30,000 seats under the broader expansion in May 2026 before seeking proposals for another 40,000. Colleges and universities were asked to identify programs aligned with regional economic conditions, employer requirements and student demand.
The province said it received more than 1,000 letters of support from employers backing additional capacity in high-demand programs.
The latest Ottawa funding builds on other provincial postsecondary investments, including funding announced through Budget 2025 for more than 100,000 seats in areas such as nursing, teaching, STEM and skilled trades.
Ontario’s broader $6.4 billion funding model is also expected to raise annual operating funding for colleges, universities and Indigenous Institutes to $7 billion. The government is allocating $57 million to Indigenous Institutes, including $33 million to support up to 780 additional seats in high-demand programs.
For Ottawa’s three institutions, the latest expansion is designed to increase the number of graduates entering sectors where employers are seeking skilled workers while expanding local access to career-focused education.