Ontario Doing More to Grow Health Care Workforce

This week, Ontario’s Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, the Hon. Sylvia Jones, introduced new pathways to Grow Ontario’s Health Care Workforce and connect more patients to accessible care in the province. As part of the government’s Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, three new programs are being introduced to explore innovative ways for health care partners and workers to address the following:  

1. Models of Care Innovation Fund: To deliver more convenient care to patients in their own communities.

• ~Establishing a $40 million fund to encourage health care partners to submit ideas to connect Ontarians to better services and care.

2. Practice Ready Ontario (PRO): Breaking down barriers for internationally educated and trained physicians to work in Ontario.

• ~The program will remove requirements to complete lengthy re-education programs, allowing internationally trained physicians to practice in Ontario immediately.  
• ~This program will add more than 50 new physicians to Ontario’s workforce by 2024.

3. Clinical Scholar Program: Mentorship opportunities for newly graduated health care workers.  

• ~The program will pair experienced front-line nurses with newly graduated nurses, internationally educated nurses, and nurses wanting to upskill, as dedicated professional mentors to ensure they have the necessary support needed to transition into the nursing profession.  

In addition to this, starting on July 24, 2023, the new “As of Right” rules came into effect, allowing physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and medical laboratory technologists already registered and licenced in another Canadian province and/or territory to start work immediately upon arriving in Ontario, without the requirement to register with one of Ontario’s health regulatory colleges.  

In the coming weeks, stakeholders will have an opportunity to review these new programs and opportunities. The Models of Care Innovation Fund application process is now open.  Applications can be submitted via Ontario Health and are due by August 31, 2023.