Doug Ford says auditors told to fast-track private colleges that are low-risk in OSAP fraud probe - Toronto Star

All Ontario private colleges have been caught up in a ban on access to student aid during the third-party audit.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford speaks at a press conference in Toronto, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.

Auditors looking to uncover OSAP fraud in private career colleges have been told to fast-track reviews of “low-risk” schools, says Premier Doug Ford.

With all private colleges caught up in a temporary ban on access to student aid funds while the third-party audit is ongoing, Ford told reporters at Queen’s Park on Wednesday that “we’ve asked KPMG to prioritize low-risk colleges and universities. Let’s get them back up and moving as quickly as possible, and that’s our goal.”

Students and colleges have said the blanket ban on accessing OSAP is unfair, and opposition critics have urged the government not to punish all because of the handful under suspicion.

Some colleges have allowed students to enrol and defer payments, for now. Other colleges have suspended programming until the student loan issue is sorted out.

“I’ve clearly communicated to the general public that we have legislation coming forward this session to ensure that we have the appropriate guardrails on private institutions when it comes to OSAP usage,” Colleges and Universities Minister Nolan Quinn said Wednesday. “But I’ve also told the students that in the new year we will bring forward a new OSAP system that brings forward confidence and assurances to know that it’s used for its intended uses.”

Quinn initially barred private colleges from accessing non-repayable student grants, then cut some from accessing loans amid concerns about fraud. He has since temporarily banned all in the sector from OSAP loans while the extent of the abuse is investigated, but says he will permanently ban OSAP for predominantly online programs at private career colleges.

Ontario will now ‘consider’ releasing part of an independent audit examining potential fraud at private career colleges.