Ontario's student aid freeze leaves newcomer facing thousands in tuition fees

A newcomer who hoped to build a career in community services says Ontario's freeze on student aid to private colleges has left her facing a tuition bill of $15,112 and uncertainty about finishing her diploma. 

Deborah (New Canadian Media agreed to identify her only by first name), who is a permanent resident, moved to Ottawa from the United Kingdom in July and enrolled in an online program at the Academy of Learning Career College in Mississauga. 

She received her first Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) payment in August. Her second payment, which is supposed to be made in December, is now under review. 

Deborah continues to attend classes, but she says the college asked her to pay the balance owing for tuition or discuss an alternative payment arrangement. The uncertainty has left the unemployed mother of two questioning her plans to settle in Canada.

She has a sociology degree and was previously employed as a support worker in the U.K. She enrolled the Community Service Worker diploma program when she arrived in Canada and hopes to graduate in May 2027 and find work in Canada’s social services sector.

“I decided to take the course to up-skill myself so that I can get a job,” she said.

On Oct. 6, Ontario announced the tuition freeze after raising concerns about irregularities in the province’s student assistance program applications for private post-secondary institutions. 

The province cited concerns about links between some colleges and immigration services firms; inadequate verification of student enrolment; and unusually high concentrations of OSAP applications from particular institutions. 

The province commissioned the auditing firm KPMG to investigate the sector and the matter was also referred to the Ontario Provincial Police, which is reviewing the allegations.

Approved aid, but a balance remains

Deborah said the tuition fee for her one-year online program is $37,781. The first $22,669 has been paid, but she still owes the college $15,112. She said her student aid account shows a “funding restriction” and her course coordinator advised her that the province was exploring the possibility of student loans through financial institutions. She said the college gave her 24 hours to pay the balance or contact its financial aid office to discuss another payment arrangement.

Deborah said she did not call the financial aid office because she couldn’t afford the options offered by the college. The 24-hour deadline passed and she is still enrolled and continues to work on her courses.

 “Nothing has happened since the deadline passed,” she said. “I’m only waiting for their verdict.” 

Unemployed and supporting her children, Deborah said she had expected to use her training to become financially established in Canada. “It has affected me greatly and has made me question my decision to come to Canada.” 

NCM contacted the Academy of Learning for comment on payment deadlines, alternative payment arrangements and support for students like Deborah, but received no response.

Deborah said she still hopes to complete her diploma. “I would like the Ontario government to consider genuine students like me who are relying on this course to build their lives and their future.” 

A wider pause with consequences for newcomers

In an Oct. 20 update, the Ontario government said payments would not resume until stronger verification rules were in place. It also proposed excluding predominantly online programs from student aid eligibility. 

At Computek College, which has three locations in the Greater Toronto Area, about three quarters of the students are newcomers and Ontario provides 75 per cent of the college’s revenue, according to chairman  Muraly Srinarayanathas.  

He said a prolonged funding pause could threaten the institution's survival.

On Nov. 12, The Globe and Mail reported that Computek has laid off 25 of its 120 employees, and Srinarayanathas said classes could also be suspended.

A 2017 survey commissioned by Career Colleges Ontario, and conducted by Environics Research, found that 52 per cent of nearly 6,000 private career college students in Ontario identified as first-generation immigrants. Among these immigrant respondents, 66 per cent said they had previously attended a post-secondary institution outside Canada. 

Although the survey findings are nearly a decade old, they confirm the role private career colleges have played in helping newcomers pursue further training in Ontario. 

NCM was unable to find more recent figures; Career Colleges Ontario and the Ministry of Colleges and Universities did not respond to requests for information. 

More recent province-wide figures were not available to establish how many immigrant students are affected by the current student aid freeze.

Jason Portugues, vice-president of CTS Canadian Career College, said the college, which operates four campuses in Ontario, has temporarily laid off staff and deferred tuition payments for students, but he declined to provide figures. 

A Canadian Press story published by CityNews reported that the tuition freeze has also disrupted paramedic training for under-served Ontario communities.

Copyright 2026, New Canadian Media. All rights reserved.

Dayo Ojerinde, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, New Canadian Media.