Ministry of Colleges and Universities

In May 1964, the Department of University Affairs Act was enacted, establishing the Department of University Affairs.^[4] The department was charged with administering the government's support programs for higher education, previously the responsibility of the education department. Bill Davis, the inaugural minister, was the Minister of Education at the time and continued to hold the position after the department's establishment until his ascension to the premiership in early 1971. In October 1971, the department's size was doubled by the addition of the Applied Arts and Technology Branch of the Department of Education, and was renamed the Department of Colleges and Universities to reflect this expansion of functions.^[7] It was renamed the Ministry of Colleges and Universities in 1972 as part of a government-wide restructuring.

In addition to jurisdiction over higher education, the department also had financial jurisdiction over the Royal Ontario Museum, the Royal Botanical Gardens and the Art Gallery of Ontario. In 1975, various cultural programs and institutions of the ministry were transferred to the newly created Ministry of Culture and Recreation.

In 1985, a separate Ministry of Skills Development was created by the short-lived Miller ministry, and for twice very brief period held by a separate minister.^[a] In a 1989 move portrayed in the press as the creation of a super ministry, Premier David Peterson assigned responsibilities for all three education related ministries – the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Skills Development – to Sean Conway.^[8] In 1993 the Rae ministry combined the three ministries to form the Ministry of Education and Training. These reorganizations were not formalized with amendment to the ministry's enabling legislation, though the Peterson ministry tabled legislations for the permanent establishment of the skills development ministry in 1986.^[9]

In June 1999, the responsibilities for post-secondary education and skills development were again given to a standalone ministry, named the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. Legislative amendments was adopted in 2000 to formalize this change.^[10]

In 2016, Premier Kathleen Wynne renamed the ministry the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development and handed the portfolio to his close ally and trusted deputy Deb Matthews. Its function and responsibilities however remains substantially the same. The new name, effected by an order-in-council,^[11] was never formalized by legislative amendment and was reversed upon the Ford ministry entering government.^[12]

In October 2019, Premier Doug Ford assigned the training and skills development portion of the portfolio, with the sensitive responsibilities over skilled trades regulation, to labour minister Monte McNaughton, and this ministry reverted to its former name of Ministry of Colleges and Universities accordingly.^[13][14] The Ford ministry further renamed the ministry to the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security in March 2025.^[15] Neither the two name changes nor the transfer of responsibilities over training and skills development had been formalized by legislative amendment.

The Minister of Colleges and Universities is a member of the Executive Council of Ontario (or cabinet) reporting to the Premier and held accountable by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. Its deputy minister, the senior civil servant in the ministry, advises the minister and head oversees the day-to-day operations of the ministry's five main divisions. As a whole, the ministry has responsibility for administration of laws relating to post-secondary education and skills training in Ontario. The divisions cover employment and training, post-secondary education, strategic policy and programs, corporate management and services, and French-language education and educational operations.^[20] The divisions report to the deputy minister who then reports to the minister.^[20] The ministry works with several external advisory bodies to assist in the governance of the higher education system in Ontario.^[21]

In addition to being responsible for the administration of policies, laws, and funding relating to Ontario's 24 colleges and 22 universities, the Ministry of Colleges and Universities is also responsible for the registration of private career colleges as well as financial aid through the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). It also plays a role in the province elementary and secondary education through its French-Language Education Division.

• Higher education in Ontario