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McGuinty Government Introduces Legislation that Would Make Access to Health Professionals a Public Interest

Bill Would Have Regulatory Colleges Consider Needs of Unattached Patients In Process of Licensing Internationally Trained Health Providers

June 16, 2008

News

Ontario is introducing new legislation that would ease the way for internationally trained health care providers to practice in the province.

The legislation – Increasing Access to Qualified Health Professionals for Ontarians Act – will, if passed, change the mandate of all regulatory colleges to acknowledge that access to health care is a matter of public interest. Ontario has 23 regulated health professions.

This legislation is one part of a bigger plan to remove barriers for internationally trained doctors. Over the summer, the McGuinty government will also be working closely with The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario on regulation changes that would ease the transition to practice for foreign-trained doctors. The plan, based on the Report on Removing Barriers for International Medical Doctors by Etobicoke-Lakeshore MPP Laurel Broten, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, details five major recommendations on how to further increase the number of international medical doctors in Ontario.

This legislation is part of the government's strategy to meet the needs of unattached patients, reduce wait times and provide older Ontarians with care closer to home.

Quotes

“Ontario is a leader in Canada in providing opportunities for internationally trained doctors to practice medicine,” said George Smitherman, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.  “Through this new legislation and Laurel Broten's plan, Ontarians' access to a family doctor would improve as barriers for qualified internationally trained doctors are removed, allowing them to practise medicine sooner.”

Quick Facts

• More than 5,000 internationally trained doctors are practicing in Ontario, representing almost a quarter of the physician workforce
• About 630 IMGs are currently in residency training
• For the fourth straight year, more certificates were issued to IMGs than to Ontario graduates by The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO)
• CPSO also reports the number of full practice certificates issued to IMGs this year was the highest in 20 years, marking the seventh straight year of an increasing number of certificates for internationally trained doctors

Learn More

Read Laurel Broten's Report on International Medical Doctors.

Find out how internationally-trained doctors can qualify for professional practice in Ontario.

Backgrounder :

• Ontario Improves Access For Internationally Trained Doctors

Members of the media :

Laurel Ostfield, 416-212-4048
Minister's Office

Mark Nesbitt, 416-314-6197
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care