Premier Doug Ford is poised to introduce changes that will allow Canadian healthcare workers registered or licensed in other provinces to begin practicing in Ontario immediately.
Currently, health professionals must be registered with one of Ontario’s health regulatory colleges before working in the province. However, in an effort to “overcome bureaucratic delays,” Ontario is poised to loosen those rules.
The Ford government said it would introduce these legislative changes in February.
“To the nurses, doctors and health care workers across Canada: if you’ve been thinking about making Ontario your new home, now is the time to do it,” Ford said during an announcement in Windsor, Ont. in Thursday.
The announcement comes just days after Ford announced the province’s plan to invest in private clinics to perform more procedures. Critics have raised concerns about how health staff could be tempted to leave the public sector for better pay and hours, leading to more severe staff shortages.
“With our new ‘By Right’ rules, Ontario is the first province in Canada to allow health care workers across the country to immediately begin providing care,” Ford said.
The premier said the province is not offering financial incentives for health care workers considering coming to Ontario.
Building on its efforts to increase staffing levels, the government said it was also prepared to allow health professionals, including nurses, paramedics, respiratory therapists and others, to work outside their regular responsibilities or conditions. “As long as they have the necessary knowledge and judgment to do so,” it said.
No details were provided on how health workers’ “judgment” and “knowledge” would be assessed.
“This will give hospitals and other facilities more flexibility to ensure healthcare professionals fill the roles most in demand at the right time.”
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