In his piece for the Globe and Mail, Balsillie School of International Affairs Fellow Fred Gorbet writes that Ontario universities are in a “financial chokehold” created primarily by the Government of Ontario’s fee regulation. Gorbet cites a 2023 Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives study that estimates that universities in ON need an additional $5B a year to meet the average funding provided to Canadian universities. As a solution, Gorbet proposes that fees should be deregulated to increase revenues and encourage competition between schools. He writes that this deregulation must follow conditions to ensure that students are properly informed, avoid sudden fee increases, and ensure that a fixed amount of revenues go to financial support for accessibility.
