Ontario to fast-track health-care worker mobility from across Canada

Ontario is set to introduce new legislation aimed at making it easier and faster for health-care professionals from other provinces and territories to work in the province, the Ontario government announced.

The proposed legislation will expand “as of right” provisions, allowing Canadian workers licensed and credentialed in other provinces and territories—particularly doctors and nurses—to have their credentials automatically recognised in Ontario. The government said this move is part of its broader plan to build a more competitive and resilient economy and address urgent labour market needs in health care.

“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 practising 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”.

Earlier this year, Ontario announced it is allowing qualified United States-licensed physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and registered practical nurses to begin working in Ontario health settings without prior registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario or the College of Nurses of Ontario.

Nearly 1,400 nurses and more than 260 doctors from the U.S. have chosen to work in Ontario so far this year, according to the provincial government.

‘As of right’

Currently, “as of right” rules in Ontario allow nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists and medical laboratory technologists from other provinces and territories to work in Ontario for up to six months while they seek registration with their profession’s Ontario regulator. The new legislation would expand this list to 16 additional health professions, including:

The 16 additional health professions proposed for inclusion under the “as of right” rules are:

1. Audiologists/Speech-Language Pathologists

2. Chiropodists

3. Dental Hygienists

4. Dental Technologists

5. Dentists

6. Denturists

7. Dietitians

8. Medical Radiation and Imaging Technologists

9. Midwives

10. Occupational Therapists

11. Opticians

12. Optometrists

13. Pharmacists/Pharmacy Technicians

14. Physician Assistants

15. Physiotherapists

16. Psychologists

The government also 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. This would allow eligible health-care workers to practise immediately upon arrival in Ontario.

“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”.

Andrea Khanjin, minister of red tape reduction, added, “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. This bold, first-in-Canada approach will reduce bureaucracy and strengthen our workforce”.

The Ontario government noted that the Protect Ontario through Free Trade within Canada Act, 2025, includes “as of right” provisions designed to enhance labour mobility and strengthen Ontario’s workforce.

Since 2018, Ontario has added over 100,000 new nurses and nearly 20,000 additional physicians, including a 14% increase in family doctors.

Ontario is expected to need 20,700 additional nurses by 2027, and 33,200 by 2032, according to a previous report.