Today, the Honourable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health, and the Honourable Sylvia Jones, Ontario Minister of Health, announced more than $31 million in federal funding for six projects that will make it faster and easier for internationally educated health professionals to join Canada's health workforce. This includes $20 million to support the creation of 50 additional positions per year, over four years, for internationally educated family physicians in the Government of Ontario's Practice Ready Ontario (PRO) program. This will result in up to 200 new family physicians ready to work in the province by 2028-29. A key focus of the program will be to improve access to primary care in underserved northern and rural regions, as well as Francophone communities in Ontario, with a specific stream for French-speaking internationally educated family physicians.
Integrating internationally educated health professionals is critical to addressing the shortage of health care workers across the country, including family physicians and nurses. These professionals possess valuable skills and experiences, but they can face obstacles to entering the health workforce in Canada, such as lengthy, costly, and complicated credential recognition processes.
The funding will also support five other projects across Canada that will provide enhanced resources and practical tools to help internationally educated physicians, nurses, occupational therapists and physiotherapists navigate provincial and territorial licensing requirements and prepare to work in the Canadian health sector.
This investment is part of the concrete, coordinated actions the Government of Canada and its partners are taking to strengthen and expand the health workforce, delivering more timely, reliable access to high-quality health care services for everyone in Canada.
