TORONTO -- The Ontario government is providing up to $7.6 million to help students affected by last month's closure of Everest College.
The money is in addition to $3 million already available through the Training Completion Assurance Fund, posted by the American-based Everest College.
Everest had operated 14 private career schools across the province but the superintendent of private career colleges suspended all its campus activities on Feb. 19 and the college filed for bankruptcy the next day.
The provincial government says it is providing the funding to ensure students can complete their training at another school without having to pay more tuition.
Those who choose not to complete their training will receive a refund.
The province says the files of nearly 2,700 Everest students have been reviewed and alternate training options have been identified for 86 per cent of students so far.
Everest College announced last summer that it was looking to sell off or close down all its campuses in Ontario, located in Barrie, Brampton, Hamilton, Kitchener, Mississauga, Newmarket, Ottawa, Toronto, Sudbury and Windsor.
The Canadian Everest campuses are owned by Corinthian Colleges, a California-based company that owns 107 college campuses across North America and also offers degrees online.
Allegations of falsified job placement data used in marketing claims to prospective students at one of the U.S. campuses triggered an investigation by the U.S. Education Department, leading to a severe cash shortage at the company when federal funds were withheld.
As a result, Corinthian Colleges agreed to close 12 campuses in 11 states and place the rest of its campuses up for sale, including those in Canada.
