Province supporting sector with new funding model to ensure students have access to the education they need to launch in-demand careers
The Ontario government is investing a historic $57 million in Indigenous Institutes across the province, the largest single investment in Indigenous higher education in the province’s history. This funding will create hundreds of new seats in labour market-driven programs and maintain the long-term sustainability of Indigenous Institutes as part of the government’s $6.4 billion investment to protect students’ access to the education they need to launch successful careers.
“Indigenous youth are the fastest-growing group in Ontario’s workforce,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “By providing record-setting investments into the Indigenous Institutes, we’re ensuring Indigenous students receive a world class education that equips them with the skills they need to launch good-paying, rewarding careers that builds stronger communities.”
The new $57 million investment will nearly double operating funding for the nine Indigenous Institutes in Ontario, bringing the total to more than $50 million per year by 2028 and includes $33 million to expand up to 780 seats for in-demand programs. A call for proposals is now open to allocate the seats, with a specific focus on health care, education, trades, transportation, STEM and Indigenous languages. These seats will be open to students as early as January 2027, with a second call for proposals in fall 2026 for additional seats to come online in the 2027-28 academic year.
“We remain proud to partner with and support the exciting work underway at Indigenous Institutes as they provide the education and training that students need to enter skilled workforces,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation and Minister Responsible for Ring of Fire Economic and Community Partnerships. “Advancing economic reconciliation means creating lasting pathways for Indigenous students to good-paying careers in in-demand sectors throughout the province.”
This investment is part of the government’s historic new long-term funding model that was announced earlier this year that will bring an additional $6.4 billion to universities, colleges and Indigenous Institutes across the province over four years. The funding will increase operating funding and support 70,000 new seats across the province to build long-term sustainability in the sector and better meet the needs of small, rural, northern, French-language and Indigenous institutes.
This funding will protect student access to the education they need to land rewarding, in-demand careers and ensure the province’s world-class institutions can continue producing one of the most competitive workforces in the G7 for generations to come.
Quick Facts
- Enrolment at Indigenous Institutes has grown by 36 per cent since 2020-21.
- This investment will increase operating funding for Indigenous Institutes by more than 100 per cent increase since 2020-21.
- This funding is part of the government’s historic $6.4 billion to support the postsecondary sector’s long-term success and sustainability, the largest investment in postsecondary education in Ontario and Canadian history.
- Through Budget 2025, Ontario invested $10 million in the First Nations Resource Development Scholarship that equips First Nations students with access to the tools and training needed to succeed as leaders and innovators in the mining sector.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
