Ontario funds 79 school projects to create more than 29,000 new student spaces

What happened

• The Ministry of Education approved $1.6 billion to support 79 school construction projects across the province.
• Funding is delivered through the capital priorities program: $1.3 billion for 67 projects in 2025–26 and nearly $300 million for 12 projects in 2026–27. The total includes $87 million in child care capital funding.

By the numbers

• More than 29,000 new student spaces will be created.
• More than 1,900 new licensed child care spaces will be created.
• The 79 projects include 11 projects for French-language school boards.

Where this matters (examples from the release)

• Large secondary projects: London District Catholic — new 1,999-student secondary school ($100.1M); Halton Catholic — new 1,499-student secondary school ($81.4M); Ottawa-Carleton DSB — new Grades 7–12, 1,474-student secondary school ($77.7M).
• Many projects are elementary school builds, additions, replacements, or retrofits across urban and rural communities listed in the release.

Why it matters

• The funding increases local school capacity and adds licensed child care space, helping districts manage student population pressures and provide more child care options.