TORONTO — Ontario is taking another step toward strengthening its workforce and reducing red tape by making it easier for licensed professionals from across Canada to work in the province.
The provincial government announced plans to introduce legislation next week aimed at supporting worker mobility and addressing labour shortages—particularly in health care—by expanding “as of right” provisions and accelerating credential recognition for doctors and nurses from other provinces and territories.
The move is part of the province’s broader plan to “protect Ontario” by fostering a more competitive and resilient economy. The proposed legislation would mark a first-in-Canada approach to interprovincial labour mobility, allowing more health professionals to begin working immediately upon arrival rather than waiting months for formal registration.
Streamlining Access for Health Professionals
“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 practicing 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.”
Currently, “as of right” rules allow certain professionals—such as nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists and medical laboratory technologists—to work in Ontario for up to six months while seeking registration with their Ontario regulator. The new legislation would expand those provisions to include 16 additional health professions, improving patient access and addressing urgent labour market needs across the province.
Expanding the List of Eligible Professions
The expanded “as of right” list would cover audiologists and speech-language pathologists, chiropodists, dental hygienists, dental technologists, dentists, denturists, dietitians, medical radiation and imaging technologists, midwives, occupational therapists, opticians, optometrists, pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, physician assistants, physiotherapists and psychologists.
By broadening eligibility, the government aims to make Ontario more attractive to health-care workers nationwide and alleviate staffing pressures in hospitals and community care facilities.
Automatic Credential Recognition
The province is also moving forward with automatic recognition for physicians and nurses registered and in good standing in other Canadian jurisdictions. Under the proposal, Ontario would work with the Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and the College of Nurses of Ontario to reduce application fees, simplify documentation requirements, and issue certificates within two business days.
The goal is to allow eligible professionals to begin practising immediately upon verification, rather than waiting for lengthy administrative processes.
Economic Growth Through Labour Mobility
“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.”
The government argues that enhancing worker mobility will not only strengthen Ontario’s health system but also contribute to economic resilience across Canada by making it easier for skilled workers to move where they are needed most.
Reducing Bureaucracy
“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,” said Andrea Khanjin, Minister of Red Tape Reduction. “This bold, first-in-Canada approach will reduce bureaucracy and strengthen our workforce.”
The proposed legislation builds on the Protect Ontario through Free Trade within Canada Act, 2025, which includes “as of right” provisions designed to improve labour mobility and support workforce growth.
Strengthening Ontario’s Health-Care Workforce
Since 2018, Ontario has added over 100,000 nurses and nearly 20,000 physicians to its health-care system, including a 14 per cent increase in family doctors. The province is also targeting international recruitment, making it easier for U.S.-licensed nurses and board-certified physicians to move to Ontario. So far this year, nearly 1,400 nurses and more than 260 doctors from the U.S. have joined the province’s workforce.
By expanding its domestic mobility strategy, Ontario hopes to continue addressing ongoing health-care shortages while ensuring patients have timely access to care.
As the legislation heads to the legislature next week, the province is positioning itself as a national leader in breaking down interprovincial barriers—seeking to set a new standard for how Canada’s federation manages the free flow of skilled labour.
