More than half of the thousands of student financial aid applications at two Ontario career colleges last year originated from a single internet protocol address, according to court documents filed by the provincial government and reported by Global News.
Court Filings Reveal Mass Application Patterns
The Academy of Learning campuses operating under the Opulence Education Group face mounting legal scrutiny as the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities details questionable digital footprints within the Ontario Student Assistance Program. For the 2025-26 academic year, ministry officials recorded 6,001 OSAP applications from the Brampton East campus. Out of that total, 3,136 applications—amounting to 52 per cent—traced back to a single IP address, with five additional IP addresses responsible for 100 or more applications each.
Thousands of OSAP applications came from a single IP address, Ontario ministry alleges. https://t.co/CJxUc4Q0zS
Similar concentrations appeared at the North York location, where 3,460 out of 6,070 OSAP applications came from one IP address, representing 57 per cent of the total volume. Two separate IP addresses accounted for an additional 255 applications. Meanwhile, the Bay Street campus in Toronto logged 6,966 applications, with 1,736 submissions tied to a single IP address.
Ministry inspectors examining student accounts found shared IP address activity across individuals who shared a common recruiter. While the Academy of Learning argued in earlier correspondence that shared IP addresses might simply reflect multiple people residing at the same physical dwelling, the ministry rejected that explanation for asynchronous learners connected through identical recruitment channels.
Inspection Findings and Program Restrictions
The province initially barred six career colleges from OSAP eligibility in May, citing an inability to reliably verify genuine studies. That administrative action followed an explosive rise in provincial grant spending on private career colleges, which nearly doubled between the 2023-24 and 2024-25 fiscal years to reach approximately $1 billion. Campuses operated by Opulence Education Group accounted for one-fifth of that total financial outlay.
Colleges and Universities Minister Nolan Quinn defended the government’s response, noting that officials acted upon numerous tips and conducted comprehensive inspections before cutting off the institutions. Since January 1, 2024, the ministry received more than 220 tips, complaints, and referrals concerning the three Academy of Learning locations. Reports alleged that certain recruiters submitted OSAP applications on behalf of students, uploaded supporting documents, and even completed coursework.
Insauga.com noted that the schools are challenging their OSAP exclusion in court. Although the Academy of Learning did not directly comment on the newest allegations involving coursework completion, the institution previously stated that it severed ties with certain recruiters, introduced enhanced IP tracking, and implemented two-factor authentication to secure student accounts.
Political Fallout and External Audits
The escalating controversy has placed Premier Doug Ford’s administration under severe political pressure. Opposition critics argue that lax oversight allowed the financial misuse to expand unchecked until public reporting forced an intervention. NDP critic Peggy Sattler asserted that the minister failed to act with necessary urgency when faced with warning signs.
Colleges and Universities Minister Nolan Quinn says his government acted on tips and conducted in-depth inspections that ultimately led to barring the schools from OSAP eligibility and launching a broader probe. Earlier in November, the province referred the matter directly to the Ontario Provincial Police while placing a temporary pause on OSAP disbursements to all private post-secondary institutions across the province. Officials have not confirmed whether the police referral contains specific allegations directed at the Academy of Learning.
Ministry representatives maintain a zero-tolerance policy toward system abuse. Bianca Giacoboni stated that the government will continue removing institutions from the OSAP framework when serious compliance issues emerge, with additional accountability legislation scheduled for introduction this fall.
