Ontario asks OPP to look into OSAP payments at private career colleges

Ontario has tasked provincial police with investigating potential criminal activity and misuse of public funds at private career colleges receiving Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) payments, following auditors' identification of "serious concerns" and "egregious" use of public money. Colleges and Universities Minister Nolan Quinn revealed that the ministry conducted targeted inspections last year and KPMG was enlisted in August to begin an audit.

Preliminary findings showed common ownership, involvement of immigration services firms, inadequate student validation and verification of course enrolment and outcomes, and high concentrations of OSAP applications from the same geographic locations. The government has notified the auditor general and referred the matter to the Ontario Provincial Police.

Critics have called for the resignation of the minister, citing a lack of oversight and inaction on the rapid growth of OSAP at private colleges. The Canadian Press reported that government officials found evidence suggesting third parties were completing coursework, and some students couldn't name their school or program. Career Colleges Ontario, the sector's association, has been warning the province about suspicious OSAP activity for years, particularly regarding asynchronous, online-only programs.

The government has paused all OSAP payments for career college students during the audit and will introduce legislation to make online-only programs ineligible for OSAP.