Ontario More Than Doubling Funding to Build New Schools

Historic investment will accelerate, build and expand more schools across the province

The Ontario government is investing a historic $1.3 billion to support the construction and expansion of 60 schools across the province. For the first time in the province’s history, the government is more than doubling the funding commitment to build more schools and expansions, which will create 27,093 new student spaces and 1,759 child care spaces.

The announcement was made by Education Minister Stephen Lecce in Oakville today alongside Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy and Parliamentary Assistants Natalie Pierre and Billy Pang.

“This $1.3 billion in funding represents the single largest investment in school building in Ontario’s history,” said Minister Lecce. “We are stepping up with a massive investment to build the homes, schools, and communities our province needs, and to ensure children have access to state-of-the-art schools close to home that give them real life and job skills to succeed in the future.”

This investment is part of the province’s plan to ensure that the public education system focuses on what matters most: important life-long skills such as reading, writing and math; improving accountability and transparency for parents and families; and maximizing capital assets.

“With Ontario’s population growing, we need to continue to build schools so students can learn close to home,” said Minister Bethlenfalvy. “This is part of our Plan to Build a Better Ontario by investing in infrastructure to get more homes, schools, hospitals, and highways built faster, attract better jobs with bigger paycheques, and keep costs down for families.”

Since 2018, the Ontario government has approved or supported the development of over 300 school-related projects including child care, of which more than 100 are actively under construction.

The 2024 Budget: Building a Better Ontario continues to support the province’s work being delivered in the Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act to build schools faster and better use taxpayer-funded assets.

Learn more: Ontario More Than Doubling Funding to Build New Schools | Ontario Newsroom