Ministry alleges thousands of OSAP applications came from single IP address

New documents in a court case involving some Academy of Learning schools shed light on concerns. The ministry alleging well over 1,000 OSAP applications came from a single IP address, with claims certain recruiters were submitting OSAP applications at those schools and completing coursework. The government says they received more than 200 tips about those schools. Academy of Learning has denied wrongdoing. Also in court documents from the Ministry of Colleges and Universities, emails from Career Colleges Ontario. In January 2025, an urgent message to ministry officials about OSAP application numbers. It raised significant concern with increases of over 500% at some sites. One, well over 2,000%. We find ourselves with limited ability to audit and justify these increases, it reads. Adding, our concern is limited to 10 school locations and not the sector as a whole. But the government paused loans for all private post-secondary schools after seeing suspicious activity and potential fraud at some schools. In a Queen's Park committee, the Liberal members pushed for the Auditor General to investigate the government's handling of student assistance. They allowed this potential fraud to happen. So I'm... I'm done. I don't trust this government. We need the Auditor General, this independent arm, to do this investigation. I declare the motion lost. But the government members voted down the audit idea, pointing to the ongoing third-party audit of career colleges and referral to police. We know that that audit will only go to the government members, and the public won't get to know the truth here. So this is very disappointing. Hours later, another attempt to get the government to act by the NDP. Provide a plan within 14 days for immediate relief for students. It presented an opposition motion. It is students that are paying the price, literally paying the price right now. And this government could do something about it right now. But the government voted it down. I now declare the motion lost. The minister responsible says they can't restore OSAP loans to the career college's sector. We have uncovered what appears to be a sophisticated, predatory and criminal scheme to take advantage of students and Ontario taxpayers. The full OSAP pause continues for private career colleges until at least early next year, with new legislation still to come. In a statement, Career Colleges Ontario says there needs to be a path forward now for students from institutions where there are no identified concerns. Loretta Radicoff, CBC News, Toronto.