Ontario plans to introduce new legislation to make it easier for health-care workers from other provinces and territories to begin working in the province more quickly.
The proposed legislation, to be introduced next week, would expand “as of right” provisions that allow Canadian workers licensed elsewhere to work in Ontario without delay, part of the government’s effort to strengthen the health-care system and the broader economy.
“Our government is continuing to break down barriers and remove red tape so that physicians, nurses and other regulated health professionals from other provinces can begin practicing in Ontario and caring for patients sooner,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “By taking a first-in-Canada approach to streamline the labour mobility process, we are making it faster and easier for both our health system partners and clinicians to provide the world-class care Ontarians need, when and where they need it.”
Currently, “as of right” rules allow nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists and medical laboratory technologists from other provinces to work in Ontario for up to six months while seeking registration with Ontario regulators. The proposed changes would expand the list to include 16 additional health professions, including dentists, pharmacists, physiotherapists, dietitians and psychologists.
“By making it easier for workers from the rest of the country to get on the job faster, our government is driving economic growth and protecting our workers and communities,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “We’re breaking down barriers to build a more resilient, unified Canada that can deliver the nation-building projects we need to stand up against global economic uncertainty.”
The government is also moving toward automatic recognition of physicians and nurses registered and in good standing in other provinces and territories. Ontario plans to work with the Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and the College of Nurses of Ontario to reduce application fees and documentation requirements and to issue certificates within two business days, allowing qualified health-care workers to begin practising immediately.
“The status quo isn’t working. That’s why, under the leadership of Premier Ford, we are protecting Ontario by cutting red tape to make it faster and easier for skilled workers to join our economy,” said Andrea Khanjin, Minister of Red Tape Reduction. “This bold, first-in-Canada approach will reduce bureaucracy and strengthen our workforce.”
The proposed changes build on the Protect Ontario through Free Trade within Canada Act, 2025, which includes “as of right” provisions designed to enhance labour mobility and strengthen Ontario’s workforce.
Since 2018, Ontario has added more than 100,000 new nurses and nearly 20,000 additional physicians to its health-care workforce, including a 14 per cent increase in family doctors. So far this year, nearly 1,400 nurses and more than 260 doctors from the United States have chosen to practise in Ontario.
