WHITBY, Ont. — The Ontario government is committing more than $26 million to expand training capacity in the long-term care sector, a move aimed at addressing persistent staffing pressures while allowing students to study and work closer to home.
The funding, announced Tuesday by the Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care, will support the training of nearly 3,000 new frontline workers, including personal support workers (PSWs) and registered practical nurses (RPNs), while also providing new professional development opportunities for staff already working in long-term care homes.
“Our government continues to make historic investments to train more staff in long-term care,” said Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, Minister of Long-Term Care. “These new investments will help train a new generation of professionals and support those already qualified to grow their careers, ensuring long-term care residents receive the quality of care and quality of life they need and deserve.”
The investment builds on Ontario’s $4.9-billion, four-year staffing plan, which focused on recruitment, training and retention across the long-term care system. That initiative contributed to the hiring of tens of thousands of PSWs and nurses province-wide, according to the government.
The latest funding will be delivered through two targeted programs. The Supporting Professional Growth Fund will receive an additional $5.5 million, bringing its total allocation to $15.5 million for the 2025–26 fiscal year. The program is designed to help existing long-term care staff upgrade their skills and advance their careers. Since its launch in 2022, the fund has supported more than 92,000 eligible workers, the province said.
The second and larger component is a $21-million investment in the Living Classrooms program, which integrates education directly into long-term care homes. The expansion includes the introduction of practical nurse Living Classrooms, allowing students to remain in their home communities while completing their training. The province estimates the program will train nearly 3,000 PSWs and RPNs by 2029.
Unlike traditional training models that separate classroom instruction from clinical placements, Living Classrooms embed learning within long-term care homes. Students alternate between in-class education — delivered on-site or nearby — and hands-on work with residents, gaining experience alongside established care teams.
“Every day, long-term care workers deliver compassionate and high-quality care for our loved ones throughout the province,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “Through this investment, our government is protecting Ontario by ensuring that future long-term care providers get both the world-class education and hands-on skills they need to thrive in their careers and meaningfully contribute to our health care workforce.”
Industry and sector leaders welcomed the announcement, highlighting the role of embedded training models in strengthening workforce stability. James Schlegel, president and chief executive of Schlegel Villages, said the Living Classroom approach supports person-centred care while helping prepare the next generation of caregivers.
“As we look to the future, nothing is more important than the development of skilled, dedicated and compassionate caring professionals to meet the needs of Ontario’s aging population,” Schlegel said. “We’re grateful the province recognizes this and is investing in the Living Classroom program, as there is no better learning environment for true person-centred care to thrive.”
Educational partners echoed that view. Craig Stephenson, president and CEO of Centennial College, described the model as a blueprint for sustainable health-care training that connects education and industry in real-world settings.
Sector associations also emphasized the recruitment and retention benefits of the funding. Lisa Levin, CEO of AdvantAge Ontario, said the programs help homes build stable care teams, while Donna Duncan, CEO of the Ontario Long Term Care Association, said the initiatives allow workers to begin and grow careers directly within care environments.
The funding announcement comes amid broader efforts to expand Ontario’s health-care workforce. The province recently committed $180 million to attract and retain nearly 8,000 nurses and invested close to $60 million last summer to expand nursing program enrolment at publicly assisted colleges and universities. Since 2021, daily direct care from nurses and PSWs has increased by more than an hour per resident, a 36-per-cent increase, according to government data.
Ontario is also in the process of building and upgrading 58,000 long-term care beds as part of its plan to reduce wait-lists and modernize facilities across the province.
