Ontario

=== Higher education ===
{{Main|Higher education in Ontario}}
{{See also|List of colleges in Ontario|List of universities in Ontario}}
[[File:King's College royal charter 1827 leaf1.jpg|thumb|Charter granted by [[King George IV]] in 1827, establishing [[University of Toronto|King's College]] as the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada.]]
Higher education in Ontario includes post-secondary education and skills training regulated by the [[Ministry of Education (Ontario)|Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities]] and provided by universities, colleges of applied arts and technology, and private career colleges.<ref name="MTCU-Role of the ministry">{{cite web|url=http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/about/role.html|title=Role of the Ministry|first=Government of|last=Ontario|website=Tcu.gov.on.ca|access-date=June 7, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160618083527/http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/about/role.html|archive-date=June 18, 2016}}</ref> The minister is [[Merrilee Fullerton]]. The ministry administers laws covering 22 public universities,<ref name="MTCU-Find a university">{{cite web|url=http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/postsecondary/schoolsprograms/university/index.html|title=Universities|website=Tcu.gov.on.ca|access-date=June 7, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602081745/http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/postsecondary/schoolsprograms/university/index.html|archive-date=June 2, 2016}}</ref> 24 public colleges (21 Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology (CAATs) and three Institutes of Technology and Advanced Learning (ITALs)),<ref name="MTCU-Find a college">{{cite web|url=http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/postsecondary/schoolsprograms/college/|title=Find a School|website=Tcu.gov.on.ca|access-date=June 7, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160618185355/http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/postsecondary/schoolsprograms/college/|archive-date=June 18, 2016}}</ref> 17 privately funded religious universities,<ref name="MTCU-Privately funded">{{cite web|url=http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/postsecondary/schoolsprograms/puni/|title=Private Universities|website=Tcu.gov.on.ca|access-date=June 7, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160703143043/http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/postsecondary/schoolsprograms/puni/|archive-date=July 3, 2016}}</ref> and over 500 private career colleges.<ref name="MTCU-Private career colleges">{{cite web|url=http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/postsecondary/schoolsprograms/pcc/|title=Private Career Colleges (PCCs)|website=Tcu.gov.on.ca|access-date=June 7, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160616204713/http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/postsecondary/schoolsprograms/pcc/|archive-date=June 16, 2016}}</ref> The [[Canadian constitution]] provides each province with the responsibility for [[higher education]] and there is no corresponding national federal ministry of higher education.<ref name="CDN Constitution">{{cite web|url=http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/Const/page-5.html#anchorbo-ga:s_91-gb:s_93|title=Consolidated federal laws of canada, Access to Information Act|first=Legislative Services|last=Branch|website=Laws.justice.gc.ca|access-date=June 7, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527001814/http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/Const/page-5.html#anchorbo-ga:s_91-gb:s_93|archive-date=May 27, 2016}}</ref> Within [[Canadian federalism]] the division of responsibilities and taxing powers between the Ontario and Canadian governments creates the need for co-operation to fund and deliver higher education to students. Each higher education system aims to improve participation, access, and mobility for students. There are two central organizations that assist with the process of applying to Ontario universities and colleges: the [[Ontario Universities' Application Centre]] and [[Ontario College Application Service]]. While application services are centralized, admission and selection processes vary and are the purview of each institution. Admission to many Ontario postsecondary institutions can be highly competitive. Upon admission, students may get involved with regional student representation with the [[Canadian Federation of Students]], the [[Canadian Alliance of Student Associations]], the [[Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance]], or through the [[College Student Alliance]] in Ontario.