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Ottawa announces $31M to speed internationally educated health professionals into Canada's workforce
Ottawa announced more than $31 million for six projects to help internationally educated health professionals join Canada's workforce, including $20 million to create 200 new family-physician positions in Ontario by 2028–29.
Why it matters
On October 7 in Ottawa, federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel and Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones announced more than $31 million in federal funding for six projects that will help internationally educated health professionals — doctors, nurses, occupational therapists and physiotherapists — join Canada's health workforce faster and more easily.
Key measures
The largest piece is $20 million for Ontario's Practice Ready Ontario (PRO) program: 50 additional positions per year, over four years, for internationally educated family physicians — up to 200 new family physicians ready to work in the province by 2028–29. The program focuses on underserved northern and rural regions as well as Francophone communities, with a dedicated stream for French-speaking internationally educated physicians.
The other five projects across Canada will provide practical resources and tools to help internationally educated physicians, nurses, occupational therapists and physiotherapists navigate provincial and territorial licensing requirements and prepare for practice.
Background
According to the latest Statistics Canada census data, only about 60% of internationally educated health professionals employed in Canada are working in the field they trained for, with lengthy, costly credential-recognition processes a key barrier. Budget 2024 provided up to $77.1 million to integrate these professionals, and Budget 2025 is investing $97 million over five years in a Foreign Credential Recognition Action Fund. Ontario says it is adding more than $25 million of its own into the PRO program to support 150 participants annually from 2026/27, toward its goal of connecting everyone in Ontario to primary care by 2029.
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