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At the same time, she added, more needs to be done because “the future of the high-quality programs offered to students remains at risk.”

Steve Orsini, president and CEO of the Council of Ontario Universities, said “while providing short-term relief, (the funding) falls far short of what the government’s own expert panel found was urgently required.”

Schools 鈥� which he has repeatedly warned are “at a breaking point” 鈥� now “face an eight-year long tuition freeze without adequate multi-year base funding, which continues to undermine the sustainability of the sector,” he added.

Colleges and Universities Minister Jill Dunlop made the announcement Monday at Queen’s Park about the one-time $903-million fund 鈥� $203 million of it set aside for schools in the greatest financial need 鈥� as well as other monies for capital repairs, research, and to conduct reviews to ensure schools are operating as efficiently as possible.

Dunlop brushed aside concerns that the nearly $1.3 billion is well below the immediate 10 per cent boost in provincial grants and a five per cent tuition fee increase recommended by an expert blue-ribbon panel she appointed last year.

鈥淲hat I will not apologize for is the tuition freeze鈥� that will be extended for the next three years for Ontario students, she told a news conference. 鈥淲e are having an affordability crisis in this province and across Canada. We are not going to put this on the backs of students.鈥�

The province will, however, allow a five per cent tuition increase this fall for students from other provinces.聽

Dunlop defended the funding increase as the biggest 鈥渋n over a decade鈥� and maintained 鈥渢his is going to ensure predictability and sustainability for institutions here in Ontario.鈥�

But Nigmendra Narain, president of the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations, called it “a one-time drop in the bucket.”

Dunlop evaded questions on how colleges and universities will make up the looming loss of revenue from international students and other funding gaps when many are running deficits and facing other financial challenges, but pointed to $15 million within the new funding to help schools 鈥渇ind efficiencies.鈥�

Opposition critics said they support the tuition freeze because of the financial crush facing students, but accused Dunlop of leaving universities and colleges in a precarious position by not providing more cash.

鈥淚t is clear that this Conservative government does not in any way understand the severity of the crisis,鈥� said New Democrat MPP Peggy Sattler (London West), noting some schools are 鈥渙n the brink鈥� and facing the prospect of cutting low enrolment programs, library hours, student success advisers and other supports.

鈥淭en of our 23 universities are currently in deficit,鈥� she added, citing a warning from Queen鈥檚 University that it may have to make cuts in the faculties of arts, social sciences and humanities.

Liberal MPP Adil Shamji (Don Valley East) said he is not surprised Dunlop鈥檚 actions fell short of the blue ribbon panel鈥檚 advice.聽

鈥淭hey put out these panels and try and stack them with their friends, and then hope that some recommendations come out that align with their recommendations,鈥� Shamji told reporters. 鈥淲hen they don鈥檛, they ignore them.鈥�

Ontario鈥檚 reputation for quality post-secondary education is 鈥渦nder threat鈥� because of the shortfall in funding, said Green Leader Mike Schreiner.

鈥淭he Ford government needs to go back to university or college to study math,鈥澛燬chreiner said.

The funding, first reported by the Star, also came with news that the province is introducing legislation that would require schools to publish all fees and even textbook prices so students have a clear idea of their costs.

A year after Doug Ford was first elected premier, he slashed tuition by 10 per cent and has frozen tuition fees since. That, combined with stagnant funding, inflation, unexpected COVID-19 costs as well as salary increases due to now-unconstitutional provincial legislation, has left almost half of the province’s universities running deficits and warning of cuts to stay afloat.

On top of that, the schools are now facing the loss of some lucrative international student tuition revenue as the federal government cuts their numbers for this fall 鈥� a move that will disproportionately hit Ontario, given the explosion in foreign students studying here in recent years 鈥� blaming a housing shortage and questions about the quality of some of the programs run by public and private college partnerships.

Last year, Dunlop asked a panel of experts to look at the sustainability of the post-secondary sector.聽

In total, its recommendations came with an estimated price tag of $2.5 billion over three years for the province’s 24 publicly assisted colleges and 23 universities.

The province says it is still considering the recommendations of the blue ribbon panel.聽

Monday’s announcements includes $10 million for northern and small universities and colleges, $15 million for third-party efficiency reviews, $65.4 million for research, $100 million for STEM (science/technology/engineering/math) student spots, and $167.4 million for capital repairs.

Some $23 million has been set aside for student mental health supports.聽

The province has previously put a moratorium on new public-private college partnerships, which have grown in number in recent years 鈥� as have questions about the quality of education and supports provided to students.

The government will also allow colleges to offer applied masters degrees in areas where there is demand, such as manufacturing, artificial intelligence and animation.

Per-student government funding for college and university students in Ontario is among the lowest in Canada.

For college students it was $6,891 in 2021-22, compared to an average of $15,615 nationally, and $11,471 for universities compared to $20,772 across Canada.