Tuition freeze extended to 2022-23 school year, Ontario government says

The province has extended its freeze on college and university tuition for the upcoming school year.

Our government recognizes that students and their families make huge sacrifices to attend college and university, so our government will continue to look for ways to reduce financial barriers for learners," said Colleges and Universities Minister Jill Dunlop in a written statement.

By freezing tuition for another year, we are saying yes to ensuring that students have access to affordable, high-quality post-secondary education, and reducing the financial strain on families who have already faced so many challenges throughout the pandemic," said Dunlop, mother to three daughters attending university.

In 2019-20, the Ford government announced a 10 per cent tuition reduction, followed by a two-year freeze on tuition fees, which it says has saved students about $660 each - or $450 million total annually compared to 2018-19 tuition rates, which at the time were the highest in the country.

Ontario tuition rates are now fourth highest for undergraduates and second highest for graduate students - running at more than $7,000 for an undergraduate arts program.

It is unclear if the government will provide any additional funding to universities and colleges to make up for the loss in revenue.

In 2020-21, the province provided an additional $106.4 million for post-secondary institutions as they struggled during the pandemic.

Increasing the affordability of college and university is part of Ontario's plan to help people get the training they need to get good-paying jobs," Dunlop also said. By extending the tuition freeze, we will ensure that students can get the skills they need to succeed in a highly-competitive global economy."

Kristin Rushowy is a Toronto-based reporter covering Ontario politics for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @krushowy