Ontario Minister of Colleges and Universities Nolan Quinn speaks during Question Period in the Ontario Legislature in Toronto on Tuesday March 24, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
The government has confirmed that a statewide freeze on financial aid payments to Ontario career colleges will continue for several months, causing concern among students who fear it may hinder their graduation.
Minister Nolan Quinn announced late Tuesday that this freeze will remain in effect until the government develops a new approval process for private post-secondary institutions participating in the Ontario Student Assistance Program.
He indicated that this work is not expected to be completed until next year, and that efforts are still ongoing to secure alternative loans for students through banking institutions.
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Quinn initiated the freeze after preliminary findings from an audit into OSAP usage at career colleges revealed significant issues.
However, many students feel they are being unfairly punished due to the questionable actions of others. They, along with industry group Career Colleges Ontario, are advocating for a more focused approach to eliminate any bad actors.
“We are disappointed that yesterday’s announcement means students and compliant institutions will continue to face uncertainty until at least the new year,” Career Colleges Ontario stated in a release on Wednesday.
“While we support stronger oversight measures and proposed legislation to protect OSAP’s integrity, many students are struggling to pay rent, support their families, and continue their studies.”
The news of a resolution being months away offers little comfort to students like Jennifer Koster, who is enrolled in the law clerk program at Trillium College and anticipated graduating in February.
“The only way I could describe it was like a bomb being dropped on me,” she said regarding the announcement earlier this month about the pause on OSAP payments for all career college students.
To make matters worse for Trillium College attendees, last week the school decided to suspend classes across its campuses due to uncertainties surrounding OSAP. Several students mentioned that Trillium suggested payment plans with monthly fees around $1,500 which they can’t afford without OSAP assistance.
Koster receives support from the Ontario Disability Support Program but noted she would have to allocate nearly her entire monthly disability income toward tuition at such payment levels.
“I went to college to better my future, and now.. it feels like it’s leaving my entire future in jeopardy,” Koster expressed.
Scott Daley, studying massage therapy at CTS Canadian Career College’s Barrie campus, shared that the extended pause on OSAP is causing him considerable anxiety.
“We’ve had moments where we weren’t sure how we were going to buy groceries,” Daley said.
“We’re having to juggle expenses just to get by. It’s overwhelming right now.. I’ve lost sleep over it. I’m not eating properly because of it.”
Deanna Hutten, a second-year master’s student at Mc Master Divinity College studying counselling and spiritual care, is reducing her course load while taking extra hours at work so she can afford her education.
“This is (because of) something that I didn’t do,” she remarked. “It’s something that the government mismanaged.”
In his statement Tuesday, Quinn acknowledged how this pause impacts students.
“While necessary to protect the integrity of OSAP and safeguard Ontario taxpayers from misuse, we understand how this situation affects families and individuals throughout our province,” he noted.
“This impact is not lost on us as we strive towards restoring trust in our system while offering students greater certainty as swiftly as possible.”
Marina Whitehead is also scheduled to finish her community developmental service worker program at Trillium College in February but now isn’t sure if that’s feasible.
She feels frustrated both with how broad-reaching the government’s OSAP freeze has been and how Trillium has managed its response.
“The government gets off work at five o’clock; they go home without worrying about where their next meal comes from,” Whitehead commented.
“They don’t have eviction notices waiting for them or face losing all their hard work down the drain.. I wish they could experience what we’re going through.”
Students across various colleges are organizing protests against this OSAP pause including events planned Saturday in St. Catharines and Tuesday in North Bay.
This report by The Canadian Press was first Oct. 21, 2026.
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