Ontario OSAP spending rose mostly for private career college students

New government data shows Ontario spent $465 million more on OSAP grants in the 202425 academic year than it did the year before, and about 95% of that increase went to students at private career colleges. The figures, obtained by The Canadian Press through a freedom of information request, come as Premier Doug Ford's government has defended recent cuts to student aid by saying OSAP costs had become unsustainable. Opposition critics argue the new numbers suggest the growth was concentrated in one part of the system and did not justify broader cuts to grants for university and publicly funded college students. The data shows grant spending for university students fell slightly year over year, while spending for publicly funded college students rose modestly. By contrast, grants for private career college students increased sharply, reaching almost $1 billion in Ontario grants last year. The government has since removed career college students from OSAP grant eligibility and reduced the share of aid delivered as nonrepayable grants from 85% to 25% for other students.