Ontario launches inspections of eight private colleges amid OSAP fraud allegations

Provincial investigators have started on-site inspections at eight private career colleges to seek evidence of irregularities or fraud linked to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). This step expands a broader probe that already barred students at all 242 private colleges from OSAP after the province received warnings from the federal government, advocacy groups and internal audits. An external audit by KMPG identified possible co-ownership with immigration services, lack of student verification, and a high concentration of applications from specific areas, leading to an Ontario Provincial Police investigation.

College administrators, including Trinity College, have halted classes or warned of possible shutdowns because of the funding suspension. The Ford government says OSAP access will only be restored once a strengthened validation process for private post-secondary institutions is implemented for the 2026-27 academic year. Additional measures under consideration include caps on OSAP-funded enrolments, exclusion of online-only programs, and tighter student identification controls.