Over $670,000 to Prepare Students for In-demand Jobs
April 22, 2026Province supporting Anishinabek Educational Institute with new funding model
NIPISSING — Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing announced that the Ontario government is investing an additional $677,750 in the Anishinabek Educational Institute for 2026-27 to protect students’ access to the education they need to launch successful careers. This funding is part of the government’s larger investment to strengthen the postsecondary sector and ensure the province continues to build a highly skilled workforce.
“The Ontario government is ensuring Indigenous youth continue to have access to a high calibre, Indigenous-led education that prepares them for rewarding careers while also building the skilled workforce driving our economy,” said MPP Vic Fedeli. “This support will protect student access to the education they need to land rewarding, in-demand careers and ensure the province’s world-class institutions can continue producing one of the most competitive workforces in the G7 for generations to come.”
“This investment strengthens Indigenous Institutes’ ability to deliver culturally grounded programming, and the wraparound supports learners rely on to succeed. It ensures students can pursue education close to home, remain connected to their communities, and build the skills needed to support local economic development and community well-being. At Anishinabek Educational Institute, this funding allows us to expand access and continue building programs that reflect the priorities of the Anishinabek Nation.” – Mindy Taylor, Director of Education, Anishinabek Educational Institute.
This funding is part of the government’s historic $57 million investment, the largest single investment in Indigenous higher education in the province’s history. This will nearly double operating funding for nine Indigenous Institutes in Ontario, bringing the total to more than $50 million per year by 2028 and include $33 million to expand seats for in-demand programs at Indigenous Institutes across the province, including Anishinabek Educational Institute.
A call for proposals is now open to allocate the seats, with a specific focus on health care, education, trades, transportation, STEM, and Indigenous languages. These seats will be open to students as early as January 2027, with a second call for proposals in Fall 2026 for additional seats to come online in the 2027-28 academic year.
This investment is part of the government’s historic new long-term funding model that was announced earlier this year that will bring an additional $6.4 billion to universities, colleges, and Indigenous Institutes across the province over four years. The funding will increase operating funding and support 70,000 new seats across the province to build long-term sustainability in the sector and better meet the needs of small, rural northern, French-language, and Indigenous institutes.
Quick Facts
- Enrolment at Indigenous Institutes has grown by 36 per cent since 2020-21.
- This investment will increase operating funding for Indigenous Institutes by more than 100 per cent increase since 2020-21.
- Through Budget 2025, Ontario invested $10 million in the First Nations Resource Development Scholarship that equips First Nations students with access to the tools and training needed to succeed as leaders and innovators in the mining sector.
Additional Information
- Indigenous Institutes
- Ontario Investing $6.4 Billion to Support Postsecondary Sector’s Long-Term Success and Sustainability | Ontario Newsroom