Expanding Canada’s Health Workforce

The Government of Canada is providing 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.

The Government of Canada is providing 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.

The following projects are receiving funding:

Government of Ontario – Expanding the Practice Ready Ontario (PRO) Program

$20 million over four years, beginning in 2025-26, to expand the 12-week Practice Ready Ontario (PRO) program. The PRO program assesses the skills of internationally educated family physicians to confirm readiness for independent practice in Ontario. The program will create 50 additional positions for internationally educated family physicians each year, resulting in up to 200 new family physicians ready to work in Ontario 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. Upon successful completion of the program, family physicians will be required to complete a three-year return of service commitment within an underserved community in Ontario.

Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators – Enhancing Resources and Support for Internationally Educated Physiotherapists

$2,166,007 over two years, beginning in 2025-26, to develop learning modules, pre-arrival resources on licensing and credentials, assessment preparation materials, as well as resources on alternate career pathways, skills upgrading and bridging opportunities. The initiative will also build a centralized information hub to help internationally educated physiotherapists navigate their integration into the Canadian health care system.