TORONTO: An Ontario private career college saw the number of its students receiving provincial financial aid surge by nearly 3,000 per cent over three years—including a nearly 6,000 per cent spike at a single campus—yet avoided being cut off when the provincial government revoked funding eligibility for six other institutions earlier this year.
Data obtained by The Canadian Press through a freedom-of-information request reveals that the Canadian College of Business, Science and Technology, which operates four campuses in the Greater Toronto Area, expanded its Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) recipient base from 562 students in 2021–22 to 17,157 in 2024–25. At its fastest-growing location, OSAP enrolment jumped 5,955 per cent from 74 students to 4,481, while provincial grants at that single campus surged by more than 8,000 per cent to $39 million. Across all four campuses, students accounted for roughly $151 million in provincial grants in 2024–25.
The explosive growth was overwhelmingly driven by online learners, who represented more than 97 per cent of the college’s OSAP recipients in 2024–25, compared to just six per cent three years prior. Despite growth rates of 1,663 per cent, 2,230 per cent, 5,282 per cent, and 5,955 per cent across its four locations, the school was excluded from the six campuses—four Academy of Learning locations and two Citi College of Canadian Careers campuses—that Colleges and Universities Minister Nolan Quinn stripped of OSAP eligibility in May over admissions concerns. Those six schools had recorded OSAP growth rates between 650 per cent and 1,375 per cent and are currently contesting the government’s unproven allegations in court.
Opposition critics have sharply criticized the province’s oversight, pointing out that Career Colleges Ontario had raised red flags about the sector as early as January 2023. NDP critic Peggy Sattler called the failure to notice a 6,000 per cent surge evidence of “total incompetence and mismanagement,” while Liberal critic Tyler Watt noted that the province only suspended schools previously flagged by the federal government in September 2025. Employment and Social Development Canada confirmed the college was not among the institutions identified for potential suspension last fall, though it continues to monitor program compliance with provinces.
Career Colleges Ontario confirmed that the Canadian College of Business, Science and Technology ceased to be a member of its association on Sept. 1 following an extensive membership review, without disclosing the reason. Neither the college nor its president responded to requests for comment.
Defending his ministry’s record, Quinn pointed out that the government eliminated OSAP grants for all private career colleges earlier this year—restricting students to loans—and paused all OSAP payments across the private post-secondary sector in early October pending a systemic audit by KPMG. On Thursday, Quinn announced upcoming legislation aimed at capping OSAP-funded enrolment growth at career colleges and banning online-only programs from receiving financial aid.
