Ontario colleges were built to provide local, affordable, and accessible job training in our communities.

But that system is on the brink of collapse, as the Ford government drains public funding from our college system. Per-student funding in Ontario is the lowest in Canada, just 56% of the national average.

It’s greenlit college admin to embrace risky and failed financial schemes like price-gouging international student tuition: a house of cards that has now collapsed.

The worst part? It’s a manufactured crisis that is draining opportunities, and good jobs, from our communities.

Over 600 programs have been suspended or cancelled alongside one of the largest lay-offs in provincial history — 10,000 jobs lost across the college system.

So where is our money going?

Taxpayer money is being shifted away from campuses, that have graduated countless workers, towards subsidizing duplicate programs by private companies that have no onus to report on spending. 

No transparency, no accountability.

While our colleges are stripped of provincial funding, private companies are getting provincial handouts. 

Provincial funding for Ontario colleges has dropped 30% since 2013/2014, while funding for these private companies through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) has climbed by 800% since 2020 – with another $1 billion committed over the next three years.

This isn’t even mismanagement – this is a blatant attempt to gut our public education system.

Workers are ready to fight back.

Starting September 4, we’re holding our first Week of Action to show our college communities and the Ford government that workers on every campus are united and ready to fight back.

On September 4, “Button Up” for the kick-off.

It’s more than a button – it’s the start of having thousands of conversations about the truth behind the “college crisis.”

Have your button and taking part? Sign up for the Week of Action here.

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