Historic number of undergraduate and postgraduate training seats now prioritized for Ontario residents
HAMILTON — The Ontario government is further expanding the number of medical school spots to historic highs while helping Ontario students become doctors in the province, whether they studied at home or abroad. Starting in 2023, the government is investing an additional $33 million over three years to add another 100 undergraduate medical school seats and another 154 postgraduate medical training seats beginning in 2024, both now prioritized for Ontario residents.
“Too many Ontario students are having to go abroad for medical school because they can’t find residency spots here in their home province while international students learn here then leave,” said Premier Doug Ford. “That’s why we’re expanding the number of undergraduate and graduate medical school spots and putting qualified Ontario students at the front of the line. We’re training the next generation of Ontario doctors right here in Ontario to stay here and care for Ontario communities.”
The new investment in Budget 2023 builds on the expansion of 160 undergraduate and 295 postgraduate medical training seats announced last year, the largest expansion of Ontario’s medical school system in over a decade.
“Medical seat expansion in the province’s postsecondary sector is a critical element of our plan to connect people to care close to home,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities. “Expanding postsecondary education opportunities that prioritize Ontarians will make it easier for the homegrown doctors of tomorrow to receive training and provide world-class health care right in their own communities.”
This expansion is part of the government’s Your Health plan, which includes initiatives to hire more health care workers.
“Increasing the number of doctors and other health care workers will make it easier for Ontarians to connect to world class health care right in their own communities,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “We will continue to implement our bold plan to grow our health workforce so Ontarians can continue to receive care closer to home for years to come.”
“By investing in Ontario’s health workforce, our government is connecting people to the care they need where and when they need it,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance. “Training more doctors here in Ontario is part of our plan to build a strong Ontario that is supporting people today while laying a strong foundation for the future.”
The Ontario government’s 2023 budget, Building a Strong Ontario, is helping to drive economic growth, attract jobs and investments, and build key infrastructure projects faster. The government’s plan is also training skilled workers to fill in-demand jobs, keeping costs down for those that need it the most, and providing better health and public services for Ontario families.