Toronto – Canada is home to some of the best doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals in the world. However, the health sector is a demanding field with challenging working conditions. These workforce challenges are not only affecting the hard-working healthcare workers we rely on but also patients, who are experiencing long wait times for surgeries, emergency room closures, and difficulties accessing family healthcare services.
That is why, the Government of Canada is taking immediate action to address labour shortages in the health sector to remove some pressure on our healthcare workers, and provide Canadians with the care they need.
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, Steven MacKinnon, has announced up to $14.3 million in funding across four organizations through the Foreign Credential Recognition Program (FCRP). This funding will help more internationally educated health professionals (IEHPs) enter the workforce, reduce critical labour strains in our health sector and ensure our hospital and medical centres are staffed with the talent they need to deliver the quality healthcare Canadians deserve – and expect. It will also directly support more than 3,500 participants through work placements, wage subsidies, mentoring, training and coaching initiatives.
Today’s announcement aligns with commitments made in Budget 2024, which provided an additional $50 million over two years for the FCRP, with a focus on the residential construction and health care sectors.
The Government of Canada is working to meet the growing demands of these sectors while helping skilled newcomers pursue work in their area of expertise.
“Internationally educated professionals possess the talent and experience our healthcare sector needs. By investing in the Foreign Credential Recognition Program, we’re adding capable doctors, nurses and health practitioners to medical rooms across the country, growing our workforce and delivering better health outcomes for Canadians across the board.”– Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, Steven MacKinnon
“Canada needs more healthcare workers into our system, faster. This federal funding will help grow capacity in our healthcare system and give relief to workers already providing care to Canadians. That means a stronger workforce, shorter wait times and better healthcare.”– Minister of Health, Mark Holland