This update is part of the Provincial nominee draws hub, with the Permanent residence guide. Health Canada announced $20 million in funding on October 7, 2026, to expand a fast-track program for internationally trained physicians seeking Ontario licensing. This initiative aims to improve access to primary care in underserved regions and address ongoing healthcare labour shortages. The program allows for quicker licensing compared to traditional routes.

The funding supports the expansion of Practice Ready Ontario, known as PRO. This program enables internationally trained physicians to become licensed to practise family medicine by completing a 12-week clinical field assessment. This replaces the traditional two-year residency requirement. A dedicated stream for French-speaking internationally trained physicians will also be created.

Health Canada committed $20 million for PRO, aiming to advance 200 internationally trained physicians. The program will create 50 additional positions per year over four years. An experienced internationally trained physician can become licensed through PRO in under a year, significantly faster than the typical three to five years for other pathways.

To qualify for PRO, an internationally trained physician must be a Canadian permanent resident or citizen. They must also meet minimum requirements for education, work experience, and language proficiency. The Touchstone Institute administers PRO in collaboration with the Ontario government and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, the official licensing body.

Physicians licensed through PRO must commit to practising in Ontario by signing a three-year return of service agreement. During this period, they are licensed under supervised practice. Full independent practice is granted after completing this agreement and passing the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario’s Certification Examination in Family Medicine. The objective is to have all participants able to practise in Ontario by 2028 to 2029.

This announcement is part of a broader effort to ease labour shortages and remove barriers to regulated professions across Canada. The government also announced $11 million in funding for five other projects nationwide. These projects support licensing for internationally trained physicians, internationally educated nurses, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists.

The federal government has invited 891 physicians to apply for permanent residence under a new dedicated pathway for physicians with Canadian work experience launched in 2026. In December 2025, Canada’s immigration department announced measures including a dedicated federal permanent residence pathway for physicians, an additional 5,000 spaces for physicians under provincial and territorial permanent residence pathways, and 14-day work permit processing for physicians nominated by a province or territory. New Ontario legislation, effective January 1, 2026, allows physicians, surgeons, and nurses licensed in other provinces to obtain authorization to practise in Ontario in as little as two business days. Workers in 20 other regulated healthcare professions can obtain authorization in as little as 10 days.

Health Canada states the program will improve access to primary care in underserved northern and rural regions, as well as Francophone communities in Ontario. It aims to support the healthcare system with selective recruitment of internationally trained front-line medical professionals.