The Ontario government will lift its freeze on domestic tuition fees at publicly funded universities and colleges and boost funding to the sector by more than $6-billion over four years, moves that it hopes will put the sector on a sustainable footing and address growing financial strain at some institutions.

It is also introducing a major shift in the Ontario Student Assistance Program, which will see a greater proportion of student aid delivered in the form of loans rather than grants.

Nolan Quinn, the Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security, is expected to announce the policy changes at Queen’s Park Thursday morning alongside Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy.