More than half of the thousands of student financial aid applications submitted last year at two career colleges originated from a single Internet Protocol address, according to ministry documents filed in court. Ontario’s colleges and universities minister announced Tuesday that he will not release a government-commissioned audit investigating student financial aid usage across the career college sector.
Court Documents Reveal Single IP Address Behind Thousands of OSAP Applications
The Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities filed court documents detailing suspicious digital activity tied to the Ontario Student Assistance Program. Ministry figures allege that for the 2025-26 academic year, 3,136 out of 6,001 OSAP applications—representing 52 per cent—at a Brampton East campus came from just one IP address. A North York campus saw 3,460 out of 6,070 applications, or 57 per cent, submitted from a single IP address. Meanwhile, a Bay Street campus in Toronto recorded 1,736 of its 6,966 applications—amounting to 25 per cent—from one digital source.
The province made six campuses ineligible for OSAP in May, citing an inability to reliably determine bona fide studies, a decision those schools are challenging in court. Career Colleges Ontario had warned the government for years regarding OSAP activity at a small number of schools. Government filings indicate that officials received more than 220 tips, complaints, and referrals regarding the Academy of Learning campuses since January 1, 2024. These tips included allegations that recruiters acted on students’ behalf by submitting applications, uploading supporting documents, and even completing coursework entirely.
Did You Know? Between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 academic years, the amount of provincial OSAP grants issued to career colleges nearly doubled, reaching approximately $1 billion in the latter year, according to freedom-of-information data reported by The Canadian Press.
Minister Quinn Defends Withholding KPMG Audit Findings
Colleges and Universities Minister Nolan Quinn announced last month that he engaged KPMG to audit the career college sector following concerns about surging OSAP usage. Preliminary findings from that audit alarmed government officials enough to prompt a referral to the Ontario Provincial Police on October 2, 2026. Despite public interest, Quinn stated Tuesday that he does not intend to make those findings public. Ultimately, we want to keep ensuring that the confidentiality of that audit is taking place, but we will act accordingly with the results of that audit,
Quinn said after question period.
A spokesperson for Quinn later clarified that the ministry would only consider releasing audit information if it avoids compromising a potential police investigation, a future auditor general investigation, or efforts to recover funds and hold bad actors accountable. The preliminary findings cite concerns over common ownership, co-location with immigration services firms, inadequate student validation, and unusually high concentrations of OSAP applications from identical geographic locations.
Legislative Clash Over Transparency and Student Relief
Opposition parties pushed for broader public oversight during the legislative sitting, but Progressive Conservative members voted down a Liberal motion to have the auditor general investigate the matter. Lee Fairclough, who tabled the motion in committee, argued that the auditor general exists precisely to review government spending and prevent future failures. NDP Leader Marit Stiles criticized the decision, noting that taxpayers are funding the KPMG audit and deserve transparency regarding what the government knew and when.
The broader provincial pause on OSAP for private career colleges has also swept up legitimate students enrolled in vital programs. Paramedic students at CTS Canadian Career College in northern Ontario who relied on the government’s Learn and Stay Grant have seen funding halted, with their school reporting that more than 40 affected students have already dropped out. Interim Liberal leader John Fraser argued that the government is making students pay for a problem they did not cause.
Ontario Audits Career Colleges After Suspicious OSAP Spikes
Why did the Ontario government launch an audit into career colleges?
Nolan Quinn engaged KPMG to audit the sector following concerns about rising OSAP usage and preliminary findings that revealed alarming trends, including thousands of applications originating from single IP addresses and potential involvement by immigration recruitment firms.
What specific allegations are outlined in the ministry court documents?
Court filings allege that recruiters illegally submitted OSAP applications on students’ behalf, uploaded supporting documents, and completed coursework entirely. At individual campuses, over half of the student financial aid applications for the 2025-26 year traced back to a single IP address.
Will the findings of the KPMG audit be made public?
Minister Nolan Quinn stated he does not intend to release the audit findings to maintain confidentiality, though a spokesperson indicated the ministry might consider sharing information later if it does not compromise ongoing police investigations or recovery efforts.
How will the provincial government balance the need for police confidentiality with the demands of students seeking financial aid transparency?