Higher education in Ontario

Higher education in Ontario includes postsecondary education and skills training regulated by the Ministry of Colleges and Universities and provided by universities, colleges of applied arts and technology, and private career colleges.Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities Ontario (2007, March 20). Role of the ministry. Retrieved September 18th 2011, from http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/about/role.html The current minister is Jill Dunlop who was appointed in June 2021. The ministry administers laws covering 22 public universities,Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities Ontario (2011, September 18). Find a university. Retrieved September 18, 2011, from http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/postsecondary/schoolsprograms/university/index.html 24 public colleges (21 Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology (CAATs) and three Institutes of Technology and Advanced Learning (ITALs)),Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities Ontario (2011, September 27). Find a college. Retrieved September 27, 2011, from http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/postsecondary/schoolsprograms/college/ 17 privately funded religious universities,Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities Ontario (2010). Private Universities. Retrieved January 10, 2011, from http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/postsecondary/schoolsprograms/puni/ and over 500 private career colleges. 18 of the top 50 research universities in Canada are in Ontario.

The Constitution of Canada provides each province with the responsibility for higher education; there is no corresponding federal ministry of higher education.Department of Justice Canada (n.d.). Distribution of legislative powers. Retrieved Nov 16, 2011, from http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/Const/page-5.html#anchorbo-ga:s_91-gb:s_93 Within Canadian federalism the division of responsibilities and taxing powers between the Ontario and Canadian governments creates the need for cooperation to fund and deliver higher education to students. Each higher education system aims to improve participation, access, and mobility for students. There are two central organizations that assist with the process of applying to Ontario universities and colleges: the Ontario Universities' Application Centre and Ontario College Application Service. While application services are centralized, admission and selection processes vary and are the purview of each institution independently. Admission to many Ontario postsecondary institutions can be highly competitive. Post-secondary students in Ontario are typically represented by student unions affiliated with one of several provincial or national student associations.

History

Pre-confederation, 1791–1866

The Constitutional Act of 1791 by the British House of Commons divided the old province of Quebec into two British colonies. The western colony became Upper Canada with John Graves Simcoe as its first head of state by fulfilling the role of Lieutenant Governor. Governor Simcoe was the first advocate for establishing educational institutions in the new colony to increase citizens' connection to Britain and prevent the incursion of influence from post-revolutionary schools in the United States.McNab, G. G. (1925). The development of higher education in Ontario. Toronto, ON: The Ryerson Press, pp. 6–9. In 1797, the Duke of Portland agreed, on behalf of the British King, to the request from the Legislative Council and House of Assembly of Upper Canada for a portion of Crown Land to support the foundation of grammar schools and a college or university.McNab, G. G. (1925). The development of higher education in Ontario. Toronto, ON: The Ryerson Press, pp. 10–12. Higher education preceded Canadian Confederation with the establishment of private and sectarian universities in Ontario during the early 19th century.Fisher, D., Rubenson, K., Bernatchez, J., Clift, R., Jones, G., Lee, J., MacIvor, M., Meredith, J., Shanahan, T., & Trottier, C. (2006). Canadian federal policy and postsecondary education. Winnipeg, Manitoba: Printcrafters, pp. 9-10. Initially, Ontario's first three universities were formed with religious affiliations.Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (2006, January 5). Postsecondary education in Ontario. Retrieved June 8, 2008, from https://www.cicic.ca/en/page.aspx?sortcode=2.20.24.27.31.32

Established in 1827, King's College was associated with the Church of England through its first president John Strachan, which was later secularized by the government of Upper Canada to become the University of Toronto. The Presbyterian Church established Queen's College in 1841. In addition, the Roman Catholic Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate established the College of Bytown in 1848. In 1866, the College of Bytown completed its conversion to the University of Ottawa through incorporation by Royal charter from the government in London, England.University of Ottawa (2006, December 20). Timeline: Major milestones 1866. Retrieved June 24, 2008, from https://www.uottawa.ca/since1848/ In 1912, Queen's College ended its affiliation with the Presbyterian Church and became Queen's University.S.C., 1912, c. 138

Post-confederation, 1867–1899

In 1867, section 91 of the Canadian constitution established that the government of Canada has responsibility for trade and commerce whereas section 93 conferred to each province responsibility for education. Higher education in Canada reflects this division of powers in Canadian federalism through the overlapping of interests and responsibilities between the provinces and the federal presence in higher education in Canada. In 1868, the province of Ontario withdrew financial support for religious universities. In 1874, the Canadian government established the first federal institution of higher education in Kingston, Ontario, the Royal Military College of Canada.

In 1876, the Ontario Society of Artists founded the forerunner to the Ontario College of Art & Design at the Toronto Normal School. In 1878, Bishop Isaac Hellmuth founded the "Western University of London" with religious affiliation to the Anglican Diocese of Huron and later the institution became the non-denominational University of Western Ontario. In 1887, William McMaster founded McMaster University by merging Toronto Baptist College and Woodstock College. By 1899, there were seven higher education institutions established in Ontario.

Early 20th century, 1900–1945

In 1900, the Dominican Order established the Dominican College of Philosophy and Theology that later became the Dominican University College.Dominican University College (2005, October 22). What students find at the Dominican University. Retrieved Nov 25, 2011, from http://www.collegedominicain.ca/new/pages/english/about_DUC/about_DUC.html In 1906, controversy over the role of the Ontario government and the leadership of the University of Toronto led to the Flavelle commission that articulated a separation of powers, resulting in the widespread adoption of the bicameral model for university governance in Canada.Jones, G. & Skolnik, M. (1997). Governing boards in Canadian universities [Electronic version]. The Review of Higher Education, 20, 3, p. 278. In 1911, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada founded the Waterloo Lutheran Seminary that was associated with the development of the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University.Waterloo Lutheran Seminary (n.d.). FAQ: General enquiries. Retrieved June 24, 2008, from http://www.seminary.wlu.ca/faq-general.php

Higher education was a low-priority under the provincial government of Mitchell Hepburn due to the effects of the Depression but universities supported the national war effort through funding from the government of Canada.Jones, G. (1997). Higher education in Ontario. In G. Jones (Ed.), Higher education in Canada: Different systems, different perspectives. New York, NY: Garland Publishing, pp. 140–141. In 1942, the Ottawa Association for the Advancement of Learning established the non-denominational Carleton College that later became Carleton University. By 1945, there were three publicly supported secular universities, six denominational private colleges, and several vocational institutes.Jones, G. (1997). Higher education in Ontario. In G. Jones (Ed.), Higher education in Canada: Different systems, different perspectives. New York, NY: Garland Publishing, p. 140.

Percentage of population aged 20 to 24 enrolled in schoolHanly, C., Shulman, N., & Swaan, D. N. (1970). Who pays? University financing in Ontario. Toronto, ON: James Lewis & Samuel, Publishers, p. 147. 1921 1931 1941 1951 1961 Ontario3.94.54.77.112.6

Late 20th century, 1946–1999 In 1946, the government of Ontario established the Lakehead Technical Institute in Port Arthur (now Thunder Bay) that later became Lakehead University. In 1948, Howard Hillen Kerr persuaded the government of Ontario to turn the Training and Re-Establishment Institute for veterans into the Ryerson Institute of Technology. Over the following forty-five years, the institute expanded its vocational focus to become Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University).Ryerson University (n.d.). About Ryerson. Retrieved Nov 24, 2011, from https://www.ryerson.ca/about/

In 1951, the provincial government hired a part-time consultant on higher education policy matters to support the Minister of Education given that no office in the government or agency had ever had full responsibility for the sector.Jones, G. (1997). Higher education in Ontario. In G. Jones (Ed.), Higher education in Canada: Different systems, different perspectives. New York, NY: Garland Publishing, p. 142. In 1956, Premier Leslie Frost replaced the consultant with a committee of senior government officials who served two years before being replaced by civil servants from the government departments of economics, education and treasury who made up the University Committee. In 1957, Gerry Hagey, Ira Needles, and Rev. Cornelius Siegfried founded the Waterloo College Associate Faculties that later became the University of Waterloo.University of Waterloo (n.d.) About UW: History. Retrieved June 24, 2008, from https://www.uwaterloo.ca/aboutuw/history/ In 1959, the government of Ontario established York University and Murray Ross served as the founding president. By 1960, there were five publicly supported secular universities. In 1960, the government of Ontario established Laurentian University as a bilingual federation representing Roman Catholic, United, and Anglican religious affiliations.Laurentian University (n.d.). Historical highlights. Retrieved June 24, 2008, from http://www.laurentian.ca/Laurentian/Home/About+LU/Historical+highlights.htm In 1961, the government expanded and changed the University Committee into an Advisory Committee on University Affairs consisting of civil servants and non-government members.Jones, G. (1997). Higher education in Ontario. In G. Jones (Ed.), Higher education in Canada: Different systems, different perspectives. New York, NY: Garland Publishing, pp. 143–144.