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Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones says the province aims to protect Ontario’s health-care workforce now and in the future in a news release on Thursday, April 16, 2026. (Postmedia photo archive) Postmedia photo archive
The Ontario government has announced plans to create legislation that would give priority for medical residency positions to students from Ontario who attend medical school outside of Canada.
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This initiative is aimed at tackling doctor shortages while encouraging more physicians to stay within Ontario.
If approved, this legislation would set up a specific pathway within the Canadian Resident Matching Service, or Ca RMS, for international medical graduates who have ties back to Ontario.
The government stated that this change would simplify things for Ontarians studying medicine abroad so they can come back home for their postgraduate training and continue practicing medicine here.
Health Minister Sylvia Jones mentioned that this proposal focuses on safeguarding Ontario’s healthcare workforce both now and into the future.
“This proposed change to the matching process would make it easier for Ontarians studying medicine abroad to attend residency and have a career as a doctor back home in Ontario,” Jones said in a news release issued Thursday.
Residency spots across Canada are filled through a national two-round Ca RMS system that matches both Canadian and international medical graduates with postgraduate training programs. Graduates of Canadian medical schools get first-round preference.
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With this new Ontario legislation proposal, some residency spots would be set aside specifically for international medical graduates who can prove they have strong connections to Ontario.</>>>
The government outlined that eligibility criteria could include applicants who attended an Ontario high school full-time for at least two years; those who studied full-time at an Ontario university for two years; or individuals who lived continuously in Ontario for at least 24 weeks during a certain time before applying.>>>
The qualifying period leading up to residency applications through Ca RMS starting January 1st ,2025 will apply as per what was stated by provincial officials. Additionally , Ontario plans collaboration with both medical schools and Ca RMS regarding implementation during summer of2026 ahead of September application deadlines.>
Toward their goal of increasing family doctors , the province also revealed plans adding over270 new residency positions throughout its medical schools. This move raises total available seatsto1739 which marks nearlya50% increase since2018 accordingto Health Ministry data.>
This has not loaded yet , but your article continues below.п>>Opposition critics have raised alarms previously about rules favoring specific international graduates over others arguing instead focus shouldbe placedon expandingtraining capacitywhile ensuringfairaccessfor all. In statement issued December5th Ontarion DP health critics cautionedthat restrictive criteria could worsenphysician shortageswhile leavingqualifieddoctors already residinginprovince out. Atthesame time doctor organizations noted initiatives supporting those connectedtotheprovince returninghomecould aidlong-termretentionofphysicians though they emphasized decisions relatedtoresidency must remainalignedwithsystem-wide needs. Canadian Medical Associationand Collegeof Family Physiciansof Canada remarkedontheimportanceoftakingcare when assessingimpactsofresidencyeligibilityrulesto avoid destabilizingfamilymedicineprograms. Ontario cited similar modelsalready usedby provinces like Nova Scotia New Brunswickand Prince Edward Island. In recentyears, thegovernmenthas increasedmedicaleducationcapacity including openingnewmedicalschoolsat Toronto Metropolitan Universityin Brampton York Universityin Vaughanandincreasingenrollmentatexistinginstitutionssuchas Universityof Toronto Mc Master University Universityof Ottawaand Northern Ontario Schoolof Medicine.Source link
