Ministry of Colleges and Universities

Last updated
Ministry of Colleges and Universities
Ministère de la Collèges et Universités (French)
Ministry overview
Formed1964
Headquarters438 University Avenue, 5/F
Toronto, Ontario M7A 2A5 [1]
Annual budgetEstimated C$281,565,400 in 24/25 [2]
Ministers responsible
  • Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges and Universities
  • Robert Bailey, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Colleges and Universities
Website https://www.ontario.ca/page/ministry-colleges-universities

The Ministry of Colleges and Universities is the ministry of the Government of Ontario responsible for administration of laws relating to post-secondary education. This ministry is one of two education ministries, the other being the Ministry of Education (responsible for primary and secondary schools across Ontario). The Ministry's offices are in downtown Toronto. The current minister is Nolan Quinn.

Contents

History

In May 1964, the Department of University Affairs Act was passed establishing the Department of University Affairs. The department was charged with administering the government's support programs for higher education, previously the responsibility of the Department of Education. Bill Davis, the inaugural minister, was the Minister of Education at the time and continued to hold the position after the department's establishment.

In addition to jurisdiction over higher education, the department also had financial jurisdiction over the Royal Ontario Museum, the Royal Botanical Gardens and the Art Gallery of Ontario. In October 1971, the department's size was doubled by the addition of the Applied Arts and Technology Branch of the Department of Education. In light of this expansion of functions, the name of the department was changed to the Department of Colleges and Universities.

It was renamed the Ministry of Colleges and Universities in 1972 as part of a government-wide restructuring. In 1975, various cultural programs and institutions of the ministry were transferred to the newly created Ministry of Culture and Recreation.

In 1985, a separate Ministry of Skills Development was created. In 1993, the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Skills Development were combined to form the Ministry of Education and Training.

In June 1999, the responsibilities for post-secondary education and skills development were again given to a standalone ministry, named the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. Briefly between 2016 and 2018, it was renamed the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development.

In October 2019, training and skills development was moved to the Ministry of Labour and the ministry was renamed the Ministry of Colleges and Universities. [3]

Governance

The Minister of Colleges and Universities is a member of the Executive Council of Ontario (or cabinet) reporting to the Premier and held accountable by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. The deputy minister manages the operations of the ministry that includes five main divisions. As a whole, the ministry has responsibility for administration of laws relating to post-secondary education and skills training in Ontario. The divisions cover employment and training, post-secondary education, strategic policy and programs, corporate management and services, and French-language education and educational operations. [4] The divisions report to the deputy minister who then reports to the minister. [4] The ministry works with several external advisory bodies to assist in the governance of the higher education system in Ontario. [5]

Function

In addition to being responsible for the administration of policies, laws, and funding relating to Ontario's 24 colleges and 22 universities, the Ministry of Colleges and Universities is also responsible for the registration of career colleges as well as financial aid through the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). [6]

Ministry Agencies

[7]

Reports

Rae Report, 2005

The Rae Report, officially titled Ontario: A Leader in Learning, called for deregulation of tuition fees, income-contingent loan repayments, and an increase in public funding. [8]

List of ministers

PortraitNameTerm of officeTenurePolitical party
(Ministry)		Note
Minister of University Affairs PC
(Robarts)
Honourable William G. Davis.jpg Bill Davis May 14, 1964March 1, 19716 years, 291 daysConcurrently Minister of Education
John White March 1, 1971October 28, 1971to be continued PC
(Davis)
Minister of Colleges and Universities
John White October 28, 1971February 2, 1972338 days
George Kerr February 2, 1972September 28, 1972239 days
Jack McNie portrait.jpg Jack McNie September 28, 1972February 26, 19741 year, 151 days
James Auld portrait.jpg James Auld February 26, 1974October 7, 19751 year, 223 days
Harry Parrott October 7, 1975August 18, 19782 years, 315 days
Bette Stephenson August 18, 1978February 8, 19856 years, 174 daysConcurrently Minister of Education
Keith Norton February 8, 1985May 17, 198598 days PC
(Miller)		Concurrently Minister of Education.
(Ministry of Skills Development is created
March 22, 1985 and assigned to Ernie Eves ).
Larry Grossman May 17, 1985June 26, 198540 daysConcurrently Minister of Education and Government House Leader
(Minister of Skills Development is Phil Gillies ).
Greg Sorbara June 26, 1985September 29, 19872 years, 95 days Liberal
(Peterson)		Concurrently Minister of Skills Development
Lyn McLeod September 29, 1987August 2, 19891 year, 307 days Alvin Curling served as Minister of Skills Development during this time
Sean Conway August 2, 1989October 1, 19901 year, 60 daysConcurrently Minister of Education & Minister of Skills Development
Richard Allen October 1, 1990February 3, 19932 years, 125 days NDP
(Rae)		Concurrently Minister of Skills Development
Minister of Education and Training
Dave Cooke February 3, 1993June 26, 19952 years, 143 days
John Snobelen June 26, 1995October 10, 19972 years, 106 days PC
(Harris)
David Johnson October 10, 1997June 17, 19991 year, 250 days
Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities
Dianne Cunningham June 17, 1999April 14, 20024 years, 127 daysConcurrently Minister Responsible for Women's Issues (February 8, 2001 – October 22, 2003)
April 15, 2002October 22, 2003 PC
(Eves)
Mary Anne Chambers October 23, 2003June 29, 20051 year, 249 days Liberal
(McGuinty)
Chris Bentley June 29, 2005October 30, 20072 years, 123 days
John Milloy (3005943938).jpg John Milloy October 30, 2007October 20, 20113 years, 355 days
(first instance)
Glen Murray cropped.jpg Glen Murray October 20, 2011November 5, 20121 year, 16 daysResigned to seek the leadership of the Ontario Liberal Party
John Milloy (3005943938).jpg John Milloy November 5, 2012February 11, 201398 days
(first instance)
4 years and 88 days in total		Interim minister upon Murray's resignation
Brad Duguid - 2017 ROMA Conference (32499226581) (cropped).jpg Brad Duguid February 11, 2013June 24, 20141 year, 133 days Liberal
(Wynne)
Reza Moridi-Persian-born-Canadian-Politician.JPG Reza Moridi June 24, 2014June 13, 20161 year, 355 daysConcurrently Minister of Research and Innovation
Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development
Deb Matthews - Creative Commons Global Summit 2017 (34193824321) (cropped).jpg Deb Matthews June 13, 2016January 17, 20181 year, 218 daysWhile Deputy Premier, Chair of Cabinet and Minister Responsible for Digital Government
Mitzie Hunter MS (cropped).png Mitzie Hunter January 17, 2018June 29, 2018163 days
Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities PC
(Ford)
Merrilee Fullerton.png Merrilee Fullerton June 29, 2018June 20, 2019356 days
Ross Romano.jpg Ross Romano June 20, 2019October 21, 20195 years, 252 days
Minister of Colleges and Universities
Ross Romano.jpg Ross Romano October 21, 2019June 18, 20212 years, 354 days
Jill Dunlop MS.png Jill Dunlop June 18, 2021August 16, 20243 years, 59 days
Members' statements 2024-02-28 Nolan Quinn.png Nolan Quinn August 16, 2024present195 days

See also

References

Notes

    Citations

    1. ↑ Government of Ontario. Ministry of Colleges and Universities. Retrieved February 3, 2025,
    2. ↑ Government of Ontario (2024). Expenditure Estimates for the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (2024-25). Retrieved February 3, 2025,
    3. ↑ "Premier Doug Ford changes responsibilities of three cabinet ministers". 21 October 2019.
    4. 1 2 Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities Ontario (2008, May 29). Organization chart. Retrieved May 30, 2008, from http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/general/tcu_chart.pdf
    5. ↑ Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities Ontario (2007, March 16). Agencies, boards, and commissions. Retrieved May 30, 2008, from http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/general/abcs/
    6. ↑ "Ministry of Colleges and Universities".
    7. ↑ "Agencies and current appointees - Public Appointments Secretariat".
    8. ↑ Rae Report
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