Ontario urged to double down on college, university funding given tariff threat [Video]

Ontario business and education leaders are calling on the Ford government to increase funding to colleges and universities as a strategy to defend the province from the looming threat of U.S. tariffs.

After Doug Ford swore in his new cabinet on Wednesday, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, Colleges Ontario and the Council of Ontario Universities wrote an open letter to the new, third-term government calling for new funding.

The letter said years of “chronic underfunding” had left colleges and universities exposed. If that isn’t addressed, they said, cuts would have to be made that could compromise Ontario’s workforce.

“Without immediate and effective investments, institutions will be forced to make decisions that compromise the quality of education and limit accessibility, eroding the province’s reputation and ability to attract and retain talent,” the open letter wrote.

“They are already forced to turn away excellent students in high-demand programs and struggle to be competitive in the battle to attract global research talent. This is harming …