OTTAWA — The federal government is providing more than $31 million for six projects intended to help internationally educated health professionals enter Canada’s workforce more quickly.

The largest allocation is $20 million over four years for Ontario’s Practice Ready Ontario program. Health Canada says the expansion will add 50 assessment positions each year and could prepare up to 200 additional family physicians for independent practice in the province by 2028–29.

Ontario positions carry a service commitment

Practice Ready Ontario uses a 12-week assessment to determine whether internationally educated family physicians are ready for independent practice. The added positions will focus on underserved northern and rural regions and Francophone communities, including a dedicated stream for French-speaking doctors.

Physicians who complete the expanded program will be required to serve for three years in an underserved Ontario community. The federal funding adds to more than $25 million the province says it is investing to support 150 participants annually beginning in 2026–27.

Five national projects target licensing barriers

The other federal grants support national organizations working with physicians, nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists.

  • $4.65 million goes to the Medical Council of Canada for improved bilingual navigation, a redesigned Physicians Apply platform and a national framework for practice-ready assessments.
  • $2.17 million goes to the Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators for licensing guidance, learning modules and assessment preparation.
  • $2.05 million goes to the College of Family Physicians of Canada to revise assessment and certification routes for internationally trained doctors.
  • $1.76 million goes to the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapy for a bilingual licensing and workforce portal.
  • $621,599 goes to the National Nursing Assessment Service for online licensing guidance and navigation support.

The projects are designed to reduce administrative and information barriers; the announcement does not guarantee that every participant will obtain a licence or enter practice. Health Canada says about 60 per cent of internationally educated health professionals employed in Canada currently work in the fields for which they trained.

Sources: Health Canada news release, October 7; Health Canada funding backgrounder.

Lead image: flag of Canada via Wikimedia Commons; not a photograph of a clinician, patient or funding announcement.