Record enrolment, shrinking budgets. Why the math doesn't add up for Ontario universities

This Matters

Guest: Kris Rushowy, Toronto Star reporter

It’s back-to-school season and Ontario universities are packed like never before. A record number of more than 84,000 first-year students are starting this fall. But even with record enrolment, schools are facing an $80 million shortfall. For years, international students have been the financial safety net, paying up to six times the tuition of Ontario students. Now, with Ottawa tightening immigration rules and visas harder to get, those numbers are dropping. Universities say the system is already in distress. Programs are being cut, staff laid off, and almost half are running deficits. And now, with higher demand from local students, there is even less money to teach them.

Produced by Saba Eitizaz, Sean Pattenden and Paulo Marques