Ontario Bridging Participant Assistance Program
Program Purpose
The Ontario Bridging Participant Assistance Program (OBPAP) provides bursary assistance of up to $5,000 to internationally trained professional immigrants with financial need. OBPAP recipients must be enrolled in non-Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) bridge training which have been programs approved by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) and which have direct education costs offered at Ontario publicly assisted colleges and universities. Approved bridging programs offered by the Michener Institute of Education at UHN (the postsecondary institutions) are also eligible for OBPAP funding.
Bursary Eligibility Requirements
Bursary assistance is restricted to Canadian Citizens, Permanent Residents or Protected Persons living in Ontario, and is intended to cover direct education costs such as tuition, books and equipment.
Applications for OBPAP bursary assistance should be submitted to the financial aid office of the postsecondary institution delivering the bridge training program of the bursary recipient. Financial need is determined by the postsecondary institution’s policies governing student financial need.
Bursary assistance is limited to eligible participants enrolled in MLITSD approved bridging programs starting between April 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023. OBPAP applications must be received no later than March 31, 2023 to by the financial aid office of the postsecondary institution offering the bridge training to be considered for the bursary.
OBPAP bursary funding will be directed to the postsecondary institution to offset the student’s eligible bridge training costs. Where applicable, students will be reimbursed for book and equipment costs based on submitted receipts. Bursary funds will only be directed to the applicant in order to reimburse previously paid eligible bridge training costs for in-session programs.
Communications
- Memo: 2024-2025 Monitoring of EO Transfer Payment Agreements (posted on September 4, 2024) (PDF, 95 KB)
- Memo: Administration of 2024-2025 Ontario Bridging Participant Assistance Program (OBPAP) (posted on March 25, 2024) (PDF, 164 KB)
- Memo: 2024-2025 Employment Ontario Transfer Payment Agreements (posted on January 29, 2024) (PDF, 130 KB)
- Memo: Support for Asylum Seekers (posted on November 27, 2023) (PDF, 105 KB)
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Memo: Administration of OBTP and OBPAP 2023-2024 Additional In-Year Funding
(posted on November 17, 2023) (PDF, 142 KB)
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Memo: OBTP and OBPAP 2023-2024 Additional In-Year Funding
(posted on August 10, 2023)
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Memo: Administration of 2023-2024 Ontario Bridging Participant Assistance Program (OBPAP)
(posted on June 8, 2023)
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Memo: 2023-2024 Employment Ontario Transfer Payment Agreements
(posted on January 27, 2023) (PDF, 161 KB) (Download and open with Adobe Reader. See instructions.)
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Memo: Revisions to Submitting a Certificate of Insurance (COI) or Other Similar Proof to the Ministry
(posted on December 7, 2022) (PDF, 125 KB)
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Memo: Administration of 2022-23 Ontario Bridging Participant Assistance Program (OBPAP)
(posted on October 19, 2022) (PDF, 158 KB)
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ADM Memo: Reminder about External Communications Activities
(posted on September 8, 2022) (PDF, 169 KB)
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ADM Memo: Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development Name Update
(posted on September 9, 2022) (PDF, 125 KB)
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Memo to the EO Network - Purchasing Gift Cards with Government of Ontario Funding
(posted on May 10, 2022) (PDF, 145 KB)
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Questions and Answers - Purchasing Gift Cards with Government of Ontario Funding
(posted on May 4, 2022) (PDF, 128 KB)
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Memo: Wrongdoing Expectations in Ontario Transfer Payment Agreements
(posted on April 14, 2022) (PDF, 102 KB)
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Memo: Purchasing Gift Cards with Government of Ontario Funding
(posted on April 12, 2022) (PDF, 98 KB)
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Memo: Employment Ontario Supports for People Affected by the Conflict in Ukraine
(posted on April 11, 2022) (PDF, 120 KB)
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Memo: Access to Employment Ontario Programs for Individuals with 900-Series Social Insurance Numbers, including Ukrainian and other visitors under Emergency Travel measures
(posted on December 28, 2022) (PDF, 120 KB)
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Memo: Business Day Definition and Public Holidays
(posted on March 29, 2022) (PDF, 123 KB)
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Memo: New Transfer Payment Requirement -Tax Compliance Verification and Attestation of Compliance with Labour and Environment Laws
(posted on February 10, 2022) (PDF, 169 KB)
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ADM Memo: 2022-2023 Employment Ontario Transfer Payment Agreements
(posted on February 8, 2022) (PDF, 193 KB)
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Memo: 2021-2022 Monitoring of Employment Ontario Transfer Payment Agreements
(posted on June 21, 2021) (PDF, 170 KB)
Reports