An Ontario career college has stopped its academic activities following a province-wide freeze on student financial aid for all private post-secondary schools.
Trillium College, which has campuses in St. Catharines, Kingston, Oshawa, Sudbury and Cobourg, halted both classroom and online teaching as of Friday, according to a notice sent to students that was confirmed by The Canadian Press.
This decision came after Colleges and Universities Minister Nolan Quinn revealed earlier this month that Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) payments to career colleges and other private institutions are paused while an audit takes place.
Trillium stated that it is providing interest-free payment plans; however, many students have indicated they can’t afford those payments without OSAP funding.
“Many students have also asked for more time to assess their financial circumstances, explore alternative payment options and determine how they can realistically continue their education,” the college wrote.
WATCH | Liberals call on Ford government to restore OSAP for non-offending career colleges:
Liberals push Ford government to lift OSAP pause for non-offending colleges
The Ontario Liberals are urging the Ford government to reinstate OSAP funding for private career colleges that haven’t shown any wrongdoing. Payments from OSAP remain paused across the sector amid an audit investigating potential misuse of the program. As CBC’s Lorenda Reddekopp explains, it’s left thousands of students uncertain about their futures.
“Continuing normal classroom operations without a viable funding solution would place the orderly completion of student programs at greater risk. The pause gives students time to assess their options and allows Trillium to restructure schedules, staffing, payment arrangements and its return-to-class plan.”
Quinn’s office has mentioned that while OSAP payments are on hold, they are looking into alternatives but haven’t provided a specific timeline yet.
“We recognize the impact that this pause is having on students and are working to develop options for low-interest, third-party loans facilitated by financial institutions to support students through this period of transition,” Bianca Giacoboni wrote in a statement.
The widespread nature of the pause affects all private post-secondary institutions such as career colleges, private universities, chiropractic schools, naturopathic medicine colleges, and performing arts schools like Canada’s National Ballet School.
Schools along with their students are strongly criticizing Quinn’s broad action and believe consequences should be aimed more specifically at any suspected offenders.
Quinn’s office has acknowledged concerns about broader issues arising.
“Evidence of systemic issues that have compromised the integrity of the OSAP system left our government with no choice but to pause OSAP payments to all private institutions to protect taxpayer dollars and hold bad actors accountable,” Giacoboni wrote.
Career Colleges Ontario has repeatedly warned the government about potentially suspicious usage of OSAP at certain colleges due to rapidly increasing numbers. Data obtained by The Canadian Press through a freedom-of-information request indicates usage at some schools skyrocketing by several hundred percent or over 1,000 percent in some cases over three years.
Quinn hasn’t specified any particular colleges under scrutiny. Trillium College campuses were not among six where Quinn denied OSAP eligibility earlier this year.
THE CANADIAN PRESS FOI DATA SHOWS THAT THE USAGE OFO SAPACROSS TRILLIUM’S CAMPUSES BETWEEN 2021-22 AND 2024-25 ROSE BY A COMPARATIVELY LOW 64 PERCENT INCLUDING THE ADDITION OF A NEW CAMPUS BY THE LATTER YEAR. P >
THE TREND OF RISING O SAP USAGE AT SOME SCHOOLS APPEARS TO HAVE STARTED NOT LONG AFTER THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT CHANGED O SAP ELIGIBILITY TO INCLUDE STUDENTS IN ONLINE AND / OR ASYNCHRONOUS PROGRAMS. THIS CHANGE WAS FIRST MADE DURING THE COVID -19 PANDEMIC THEN WAS LATER MADE PERMANENT. P >
QUINN HAS SAID THAT MANY OF THE SERIOUS CONCERNS STEM FROM ONLINE ONLY PROGRAMS AND THIS FALL THE GOVERNMENT WILL INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO MAKE THEM INELIGIBLE FOR O SAP AGAIN. P >
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