Confederation College and Lakehead University are welcoming the prospect of more provincial money coming their way.

One-point-three billion dollars will be doled out to colleges and universities across Ontario to offset the revenue loss from a continued tuition freeze and the federal cap on international students.

College president Kathleen Lynch says it will help with their operating budgets.

“Anything that the province can do to help us, we appreciate, and we hope that it would be made permanent going forward because we haven’t seen increases in operating funding in many, many years,” says Lynch.

“We’re in good shape for this year and even into next year. We’ll have a flow-through of international students who are already here. It’s the following year that we’re really concerned about. Obviously, our revenues are going to go down next year, but we will really feel the impact of that cap in the following year.”

Post-secondary institutions have not been able to increase tuition since 2018.

The Ford government reduced fees by 10% and imposed a freeze that will continue for another three years.

“We’re disappointed about the tuition freeze, but we’re very happy to get that increase to base funding,” says Dr. Gillian Siddall, Vice-Chancellor and President of Lakehead University.

“We’re still sorting out all the details, but my understanding is that there’s funding available to support northern universities recognizing the kinds of barriers that we face. This won’t totally resolve our financial problems, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction, and we’re very grateful for it.”

The institutions will be able to increase the fees for students coming from other provinces.

Lynch says the college does not see a lot of those students, while any increase in the tuition for international students is usually based on what other institutions do.

Northern colleges and universities will also have available a one-time $10 million infusion to the Small, Northern and Rural Grant for colleges and Northern Ontario Grant for Universities in 2024-25.

Siddall says that recognizes the unique challenges the institutions face.