Ottawa puts more than $31 million into health-worker licensing projects

The federal government is providing more than $31 million for six projects intended to help internationally educated health professionals enter licensed practice in Canada.

The largest contribution is $20 million for Practice Ready Ontario. Health Canada says the funding will add 50 assessment positions a year for four years, with the goal of having as many as 200 additional family physicians ready to practise by 2028–29.

The Ontario project includes a stream focused on northern, rural and francophone communities. Five other projects will support licensing navigation, assessment tools or workplace integration for physicians, nurses, occupational therapists and physiotherapists.

The funding is aimed at credential assessment and workforce entry; it is not a direct promise that every participant will receive a licence or that positions will be filled in a particular community.

Source: Health Canada, release published October 7, 2026.

Featured image: Luis Melendez / Unsplash, under the Unsplash Licence. Illustrative health-care team; not participants in the funded projects. Resized for publication.