Community Colleges Catastrophe

What’s happening in Ontario’s colleges is heartbreaking. I know instructors who've lost long-held jobs, and students now face shrinking opportunities as programs disappear. None of this is their fault — and it’s not the fault of international students either, who came here in good faith.

The real issue is years of chronic underfunding, made worse by an over-reliance on international tuition and a government now using this crisis to score political points. And with AI already eliminating jobs — and threatening many more — this couldn’t be happening at a worse time. We should be expanding access to future-ready education, not cutting it to the bone.

Blame-shifting won’t fix this. We need leadership, investment, and a reset that rebuilds colleges as strong, inclusive, community-focused institutions. Because a thriving college system isn’t just about jobs — it’s about our shared future.

Animated version of the editorial cartoon printed in the July 11, 2025 edition of the Hamilton Spectator: