The Ontario government is investing more than $21 million to expand training and career advancement opportunities for frontline workers in the province’s long-term care sector, with a particular focus on rural, remote and northern communities where staffing shortages remain most acute.
Announced Wednesday, the $21.5 million commitment will fund two “Learn and Earn” programs over four years, enabling approximately 700 existing long-term care employees to gain new qualifications while continuing to work. The initiative is aimed at strengthening the workforce pipeline, improving retention and ensuring residents receive consistent, high-quality care closer to home.
The investment is part of the province’s broader effort to stabilize and rebuild long-term care following years of system strain and growing demand from an aging population. Seniors aged 65 and older now represent the fastest-growing demographic in Ontario, intensifying pressure on care homes across the province.
“We’re making record investments to staff, build and upgrade long-term care across Ontario, including in rural and northern communities, to ensure residents have the safe and supportive homes they deserve,” said Premier Doug Ford. “We will continue to support innovative programs like Learn and Earn to ensure residents in rural and northern communities have access to quality care.”
The funding builds on Ontario’s existing $4.9 billion, four-year staffing plan, which has focused on recruitment, training and retention. That plan has already added tens of thousands of personal support workers (PSWs) and nurses to the provincial workforce. In 2025, the government also surpassed its target of delivering an average of four hours of daily direct care for residents, provided by nurses and PSWs.
Under the new investment, Ontario will allocate $17.6 million to the PSW Learn and Earn Program. The program allows existing long-term care staff—such as resident support personnel and dietary aides—to train as PSWs through a combination of online coursework and paid, on-site clinical placements.
An additional $3.9 million will support the PSW to Practical Nurse Learn and Earn Program, training 40 current PSWs to become registered practical nurses. The program is designed to create clear advancement pathways for experienced frontline staff while addressing ongoing nursing shortages in the sector.
Both initiatives will be delivered by Humber Polytechnic and build on the early success of the Learn and Earn model, which has already supported the training of more than 600 PSWs across Ontario. By allowing participants to study and complete placements in their home communities, the programs are intended to reduce barriers to education and help long-term care homes “grow their own” workforce.
“Our government is building a strong staff training pipeline to retain more workers and improve resident care,” said Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, Minister of Long-Term Care. “This new investment will help existing staff build the skills they need to grow their careers and ensure long-term care residents continue to receive world-class care close to home.”
Postsecondary institutions and sector organizations welcomed the announcement, pointing to the role of community-based training in sustaining the workforce.
“Our world-class postsecondary institutions are integral to ensuring we have a pipeline of long-term care workers to deliver compassionate care to our loved ones today, and into the future. Through this investment, our government is strengthening that pipeline by training more highly skilled workers to provide exceptional care without having to leave their home communities,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security.
Humber Polytechnic said the program has already demonstrated measurable results. “Humber is proud to partner with the Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care to deliver workforce solutions that strengthen Ontario’s long-term care system. The Learn and Earn Accelerated PSW Program is a proven model that removes financial barriers, supports working learners and helps retain skilled professionals where they are needed most,” said Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan, President & CEO of Humber Polytechnic.
Sector groups representing colleges and long-term care providers also emphasized the importance of investing in existing staff, particularly in smaller communities. “Ontario’s colleges are essential to building and sustaining the long-term care workforce, especially in rural and northern communities,” said Maureen Adamson, President and CEO of Colleges Ontario.
The investment aligns with the province’s broader long-term care strategy, which rests on four pillars: staffing and care; quality and enforcement; building modern, safe and comfortable homes; and improving access to services. As part of that plan, Ontario is building 58,000 new and upgraded long-term care beds and has committed additional funding to nursing education and PSW incentives.
With demand for care continuing to rise, the province is positioning workforce development as a central tool to protect care standards and ensure continuity for residents across Ontario.
