The Ontario government is investing nearly $75 million in programs that will train thousands of students and workers over the next three years for careers in long-term care, the province announced Friday.
The funding is part of a broader plan to help people train, upskill and gain the skills needed for jobs as health-care professionals in long-term care, the Ministry of Long-Term Care said in a news release.
“Our government is protecting our long-term care system by adding skilled, qualified care providers to the workforce,” said Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, Minister of Long-Term Care. “Ontario’s investments in training will prepare thousands of people for rewarding careers, while ensuring our long-term care home residents get skilled, professional care.”
Four programs are receiving more than $58 million in total. The largest share, $22.5 million over three years, is going to the Bridging Education Grant in Nursing program, which provides tuition and other supports to personal support workers and registered practical nurses who want to advance their careers. The program, delivered by the Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario, has supported more than 1,500 participants so far, and the extension is expected to add 877 more nurses to the sector.
Another $18 million over three years is going to the PSW District School Board Bursary Program, which is expected to help 6,000 more people complete personal support worker training.
The Francophone PSW Learn and Earn Program at Collège Boréal is receiving $3.89 million over three years to help existing long-term care staff train as personal support workers without leaving their home communities. The program has helped 65 French-speaking long-term care staff become qualified personal support workers since 2024 and will now train up to 120 more.
A further $13.8 million over two years will support personal support worker, practical nursing and pre-health education programs at eight Indigenous Institutes.
The province is also providing up to $15.5 million in base funding this year under the Supporting Professional Growth Fund, which long-term care homes can use for ongoing education and training of staff who work directly with residents. The fund has helped more than 143,000 staff advance their careers since 2022.
“Ontario’s world-class postsecondary institutions are experts in training the health-care workforce that protects and cares for our loved ones when they need it most. By investing in these training programs, we are bringing more dedicated personal support workers, registered practical nurses, and nurses to long-term care homes across Ontario,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security.
The government said seniors are the fastest-growing age group in the province, and it is also offering incentives to eligible personal support workers to launch careers in long-term care homes and in the home and community care sector. As part of its broader plan for the sector, the government is building 58,000 new and upgraded long-term care beds across the province.
