Ontario halts training money for job seekers without saying so

Ontario has suspended funding for unemployed people seeking skills training through Better Jobs Ontario, according to career colleges and employment agencies that have confirmed the pause to their clients. The move leaves thousands of job seekers waiting for a decision that the provincial government has not formally announced.

The pause follows the government’s decision to freeze Ontario Student Assistance Program payments to all private post-secondary institutions. Colleges and Universities Minister Nolan Quinn made that announcement earlier this month after preliminary audits raised concerns about how financial aid was being used at some career colleges. The new halt to Better Jobs Ontario funds affects a separate stream of money designed to help people leave social assistance and enter the workforce.

The government has not issued a public statement confirming the suspension of this specific training fund. When asked about the status of Better Jobs Ontario, the minister’s office offered a brief explanation through spokesperson Bianca Giacoboni. She stated that preliminary audit findings pointed to serious, systemic concerns about OSAP usage at private postsecondary institutions. Giacoboni added that OSAP payments to students at these institutions are paused and that other streams of provincial funding to private institutions, both current and past, are under review. She declined to list the specific funding streams under review.

Reece Daniel was scheduled to begin an HVAC program in London, Ont., on October 19. The government had planned a meeting on October 13 to provide him with details about his funding agreement. A few days before that meeting, officials cancelled the appointment and told him that applications were under review. The next available intake for his specific HVAC program is in May 2027.

Daniel said the course was intended to help him get back on his feet. He noted that while he may still be presented with the opportunity to attend school next year, the delays and the time spent waiting for a decision were frustrating. He described the process of putting off work for such a long period as disappointing.

Ben Cecil, CEO of Pathways Employment Help Centre, said his agency has been assisting Daniel and other clients with their applications. Cecil reported that multiple clients are experiencing similar delays and uncertainty regarding their Better Jobs Ontario funding decisions. He said the agency made repeated efforts to obtain clarification from the government. The lack of a definitive decision prevented Daniel and other clients from proceeding with their planned training as scheduled.

Career Colleges Ontario said its member schools have reported that Better Jobs Ontario funding for their students has been paused. The association noted that it has not received any formal communication from the government regarding this specific change. In a statement, the group expressed concern about any disruption to funding for students attending compliant institutions. It urged the government to restore access to funding for students at schools with no identified compliance concerns. The association advocated for a targeted approach that allows students to access support while maintaining accountability across the sector.

Trillium College suspended classes due to the OSAP pause. In a letter to students, the college described the measure as temporary. It cited the uncertainty caused by the OSAP freeze and a separate funding interruption affecting Better Jobs Ontario-funded students at the institution.

Interim Liberal leader John Fraser criticized the government’s lack of transparency. He argued that if the province is taking action against another source of funding, it should explicitly say so. Fraser said the action is happening and that the government knows it is happening. He questioned why the government appears afraid to state the facts publicly.