OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 7, 2026 /CNW/ -- 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. 

Quotes

"Investing in health care is investing in productivity. Today's announcement reaffirms Canada's partnership role, and it's great news for Ontarians, and our public health care system."

The Honourable Marjorie Michel
Minister of Health

"Our government continues to take bold and decisive action to grow the province's highly skilled health-care workforce to ensure people and their families have access to high-quality care, closer to home, for generations to come. We welcome this investment from the federal government which will build on the over $25 million we are investing into the Practice Ready Ontario program to support 150 participants annually starting in 2026/27 and is another important step as we continue our work to connect everyone in Ontario to primary care by 2029."

The Honourable Sylvia Jones
Ontario Minister of Health

"This funding is expected to create up to 200 new family physicians. For people across Ontario who don't have a family physician, this is a big step in improving equitable access to primary care." 

Viviane Lapointe
Member of Parliament for Sudbury and Chair of Ontario Caucus

"Internationally educated occupational therapists (IEOTs) bring tremendous knowledge, experience and perspectives to Canada's health system at a time when communities are seeing a growing need for occupational therapy services. We are grateful to Health Canada for the investment that is making the Canadian Hub for IEOTs possible. By bringing trusted information, practical tools and supports together in one place, we hope to make the pathway to practice clearer for IEOTs and strengthen the profession and the communities it serves."

Irving Gold
Chief Executive Officer
Canadian Association of Occupational Therapy

"Internationally educated physiotherapists have vital skills and experience that help meet the health needs of Canadians every day. This investment is helping CAPR make the pathway to physiotherapy practice in Canada easier to understand and navigate, ensuring these highly-qualified health professionals can access practical tools, resources, and support to help them prepare for practice in the Canadian healthcare system."

Dave Clements
Chief Executive Officer
Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators

"Internationally educated nurses bring valuable skills and experience to Canada's health care system, but the path to practice can often be difficult to navigate. With this support from Health Canada, the National Nursing Assessment Service is developing practical resources that help applicants understand each step of the process and move forward with greater clarity and confidence."

Penni Caron
Chief Executive Officer
National Nursing Assessment Service

"Internationally trained physicians (ITPs) are, and will continue to be, an important part of the care solution for Canadians. This funding supports our work to enhance our preparatory products, build a reliable source of information and support for ITPs on our website, and convene the International Medical Graduate Alliance, bringing together organizations and individuals, including ITPs themselves, to align efforts and avoid duplication."

Dr. Viren Naik
Chief Executive Officer
Medical Council of Canada

"As people in Canada continue to face challenges in accessing family doctors, internationally trained physicians (ITPs) represent an important, skilled, and valued part of the family medicine workforce. The CFPC's Re-IMGine Project is focused on evolving the pathways and supports available to internationally trained physicians (ITPs) as they pursue Certification in the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CCFP). As the professional home of every family physician in Canada, the CFPC grants the CCFP designation – a mark of excellence that demonstrates a family doctor has the training, skills, and experience required to provide continuous, comprehensive care. By evolving certification pathways and supports while upholding these standards, the Re-IMGine Project contributes to a strong family medicine workforce and upholds the trust people in Canada have in their family physicians, while championing family medicine excellence."

Dr. Makini McGuire-Brown, MBBS, MBA, PMP, PhD
Director, Re-IMGine Project
College of Family Physicians of Canada

Quick Facts

• According to the latest Statistics Canada Census data, it is estimated that approximately 60% of internationally educated health professionals employed in Canada are working in the fields for which they were trained.
• On December 8, 2025, the Government of Canada announced targeted immigration measures to recruit internationally trained physicians to Canada, creating a new Express Entry program, providing 5,000 new spaces under the Provincial Nominee Program, and 14-day work permit processing for eligible applicants.
• The Government of Canada is providing up to $77.1 million, through Budget 2024, to effectively integrate internationally educated health care professionals into the Canadian health workforce. To achieve this, the Government is supporting three streams of initiatives: improved navigation of foreign credential recognition systems; funding of 120 new family medicine training positions; and increased assessment capacity.
• In addition, Budget 2025 is investing $97 million over five years to create a Foreign Credential Recognition Action Fund. The government will work with the provinces and territories to make credential recognition fairer, faster, and more transparent, helping qualified foreign-trained professionals contribute more quickly to Canada's workforce, including in fields facing labour shortages such as health care and construction.
• Through the Working Together plan, the Government is providing close to $200 billion over 10 years. This includes $25 billion of funding through tailored bilateral agreements to meet the specific needs of each province and territory, such as support for the health workforce.

Associated Links

• Health workforce - Canada.ca
• Backgrounder: Expanding Canada's Health Workforce

SOURCE Health Canada (HC)