Ontario Releases 2023 Budget
The Government of Ontario has released its $204B 2023 Budget. CBC reports that 5.9% of the budget for 2023-24 has been allocated to the postsecondary sector. Over the next decade, the budget’s capital plan includes $5.4B for the postsecondary sector, which includes $2B in capital grants to support the modernization of classrooms, critical repairs, and improved environmental sustainability.
Other key investments over the next three years include $75M for the Skilled Development Fund, $32.4M to build research internships through Mitacs, $15M to support reskilling through Better Jobs Ontario, $5M over three years for micro-credential projects, and $3.3M to expand access to healthcare related dual credit opportunities.
The province is also investing $14.7M over two years to launch a collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program with the University of Guelph and Lakehead University, which will provide seats for 20 new students each year.
Ontario’s Capital Plan
Ontario’s Plan to Build includes the most ambitious capital plan in Ontario’s history, with planned investments over the next 10 years totalling $184.4 billion, including $20.6 billion in 2023–24. This plan is getting shovels in the ground to build highways, hospitals and other critical assets, laying the foundation for a strong Ontario.
Key highlights in the capital plan include:
Highways
Transit
Health
Long‐Term Care
Education and Postsecondary Education
Broadband
Education and Postsecondary Education
Investing $22 billion, including about $15 billion in capital grants over the next 10 years, to build more schools and child care spaces, including a new English public elementary school in North Bay, a new addition to the École élémentaire et secondaire publique Ronald‐Marion in Pickering, a new addition to the École secondaire catholique Sainte‐Trinité in Oakville, and a new English Catholic secondary school in Windsor; and
$5.4 billion in the Postsecondary Education sector, including over $2 billion in capital grants over the next 10 years to help colleges, universities and Indigenous Institutes modernize classrooms by upgrading technology, carrying out critical repairs and improving environmental sustainability.
Reinforcing Ontario Clean Energy Advantage
Clean energy has become an economic imperative as companies around the world want to invest in jurisdictions with affordable, reliable and clean energy. Ontario’s clean energy grid is another competitive advantage in attracting investments and jobs to the province. The government is continuing to invest in a clean energy future across the province. This is essential as Ontario attracts investments in sectors such as manufacturing, mining, electric vehicles and batteries, to compete and support the transition to a cleaner economy.
Ontario is:
Launching the Clean Energy Credit Registry
Powering an Affordable, Reliable and Clean Electricity System for the Long Term
Seizing Ontario’s Nuclear Advantage
Keeping Electricity Costs Down for Consumers and Job Creators
Building More Schools
Maintaining school infrastructure is critical to students and helps ensure that they learn in an environment that is modern, safe and accessible. This is why the government is investing about $15 billion in capital grants over 10 years to support student achievement by expanding and renewing schools and child care spaces.
Examples of School Projects Under Construction and Recently Opened
Northern :
A new English public elementary and secondary school in Atikokan will serve 354 students and include 49 licensed child care spaces.
The retrofit of Chelmsford Valley District Composite School into an elementary and secondary school in Chelmsford will serve 540 students.
A new joint public school between the French public and Catholic school boards in Iroquois Falls will serve 240 secondary students.
A new English public elementary school in North Bay will serve 308 students and include 73 licensed child care spaces.
The Churchill Public School addition in Sudbury will add 49 licensed child care spaces to an existing school serving 433 students.
Southwestern:
A new English public secondary school in Amherstburg will serve 819 students.
A new English public elementary school in Kitchener will serve 591 students and include 88 licensed child care spaces.
A new English public elementary school in London will serve 556 students and include 88 licensed child care spaces.
A new English Catholic secondary school in Windsor will serve 850 students.
Eastern:
A new joint public school between the French public and Catholic school boards in Kingston will serve 600 secondary students and include 49 licensed child care spaces.
A new English Catholic elementary school in Nepean will serve 507 students and include 39 licensed child care spaces.
A new English public elementary school in Ottawa will serve 628 students and include 39 licensed child care spaces.
A new French public elementary school in Ottawa will serve 475 students and include 49 licensed child care spaces.
Central:
A new English Catholic elementary school in Alliston will serve 470 students and include 49 licensed child care spaces.
A new English public elementary school in Bradford will serve 501 students and include 39 licensed child care spaces.
A new English public elementary school in Milton will serve 908 students and include 88 licensed child care spaces.
The École secondaire catholique Sainte-Trinité addition in Oakville will add 180 secondary spaces and now serve 728 students.
The École élémentaire et secondaire publique Ronald-Marion addition in Pickering will create 49 child care spaces.
Supporting Conservation
The government’s plan includes the conservation of Ontario’s natural areas to help protect species and their habitats, improve soil health, and support outdoor recreational enjoyment for future generations and mitigate the effects of climate change.
Protecting Ontario’s Natural Areas and Boreal Caribou
The government is expanding the Greenlands Conservation Partnership by investing an additional $14 million in 2023–24. The investment will allow conservation partners to raise matching private‐ sector contributions to secure new, privately owned natural areas, such as wetlands, grasslands and forests, and ensure they are protected and managed for the future.
Investing in Ontario’s Soil Strategy
Healthy soil is essential to strengthening Ontario’s agri‐food supply chain stability and local food production. Together with over 20 partners from the province’s agriculture and food commodity organizations, academia and Conservation Authorities, Ontario has committed to developing and implementing Ontario’s Agricultural Soil Health and Conservation Strategy. This soil strategy is a long‐term framework that sets the vision, goals and objectives for soil health and conservation in Ontario to 2030 with accompanying actions and methods to measure progress.
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Creating New Provincial Green Spaces
Ontario is also building stronger and healthier communities by expanding recreational opportunities for families to enjoy. This is why the government is actively taking steps to open the first new, full‐service, operating provincial park in 40 years. The new park will offer four‐season facilities and recreational activities including swimming, hiking, cross‐country skiing, and add 250 new campsites to the Ontario Parks system. The location of the park and its facilities is in the process of being finalized.
Preparing Students for the Jobs of the Future
Ontario is preparing students for the jobs of the future by better connecting learning in the classroom to meaningful careers. This is why the government is creating more hands‐on learning opportunities and allowing students to earn college credits and take apprenticeship training while still in high school, building a pipeline of job‐ready graduates.
The how:
Training the Next Generation of Skilled Workers
Preparing High School Students for Health Care Careers Through Dual Credits
Training More Health Care Workers
Expanding Degree Options at Ontario Publicly Assisted Colleges
Expanding Veterinary Training
Supporting Students and Families
Ontario is putting students and parents first. This is why the government is helping students catch up, as well as connecting the education system to in‐demand jobs.
Helping Students Catch Up
Ontario continues to take action to ensure students catch up after two years of learning disruption. The next steps in the government’s Plan to Catch Up will focus on helping students develop skills in math and reading and preparing them for the jobs of the future.
Moving forward, the government will further enhance supports under the plan, including:
Early Reading Enhancements
Targeted Math Supports
Preparing More Students for the Jobs of the Future
Continued Curriculum Updates
Teaching Financial Literacy
The new curriculum emphasizes financial literacy so that by the time students graduate from secondary school, they have the skills to budget and manage their personal finances. Building on this, the government will provide $6.8 million over three years to support practical, hands‐on experiences for students to further their financial literacy learning and growth.
Providing Parents Choice and Making Child Care More Affordable
Since its launch, 92 per cent of Ontario’s licensed child care sites have enrolled in the Canada‐wide Early Learning and Child Care system. This landmark $13.2 billion investment made jointly by the Governments of Canada and Ontario provides direct financial relief for families through a 50 per cent reduction to child care fees for children aged 0 to 5. Child care fees will be further reduced to an average of $10 per day by September 2025.
Improving Outcomes for Youth Leaving the Child Welfare System
Youth leaving the child welfare system are at high risk of being trafficked, experiencing homelessness and developing mental health issues, and have lower high school graduation rates than their peers. As part of the child welfare redesign, the government is investing $170 million over three years to support a new program aimed at improving long‐term outcomes for youth.