Ontario Expanding Pathways for Newcomers Working in Health Care

  • Newcomers play a crucial role in growing our economy and building a stronger and more inclusive Ontario for all of us.
  • Our government is making changes to OINP to expand the health care workforce, increase the occupations eligible for the In-Demand Skills stream and protect newcomers from immigration fraud. These changes come into effect on July 1, 2024. These changes include:

–       Exempting nurses who are registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario in designated classes from being required to provide a bachelor’s degree to qualify for the OINP Express Entry Human Capital Priorities and French-Speaking Skilled Worker streams. This change will create additional pathways for internationally educated nurses, to receive a nomination through the program, enabling Ontario to better expand the health care workforce to meet the needs of Ontarians.

–       Increasing the number of occupations eligible for the Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills stream from 22 to 56, allowing more skilled workers to qualify for the program.

–       Increasing the Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPs) that will be issued when fraud is found from employers, representatives, recruiters, or those who acquire a financial benefit from fraud. The minimum penalty will rise from $2,000 to $10,000. 

  • These changes help address ongoing labour shortages in key sectors such as health care while also better protecting newcomers to the province.
  • By expanding the current pathways of this program, our government is attracting more top-tier talent to Ontario and removing the barriers they face, while addressing the human resources challenges in health care.