Ontario should turn the existing university support grants into tuition subsidy grants that are attached to students, not institutions

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Politicians often claim that they like “bold” ideas. How about this one? Let Ontario universities take full control of their own finances so they can do the vital job the province’s economic future requires.

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When it comes to universities, the Progressive Conservative government has imposed an unappealing blend of neglect and control. It holds all the key levers, determining not only its own per-student support, but also tuition amounts and even the number of students allowed to attend. That’s a lot of power considering that provincial grants cover only 30 per cent of university operating costs.

The provincial government is running the show, but the numbers suggest it isn’t doing a good job. Ontario’s provincial grants average $8,994 per full-time student, only 55 per cent of the average of the rest of the provinces, the Council of Ontario Universities (COU) says. That’s the lowest in the country.

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