Canada Announces $14.3 Million Investment for Health Sector Workforce
The Government of Canada has announced a plan to invest up to $14.3 million aimed at mitigating labor shortages in the health sector. This initiative is being conducted through the Foreign Credential Recognition Program (FCRP), which assists internationally educated health professionals in joining the Canadian workforce.
The announcement was made by Steven MacKinnon, who serves as Minister of Employment, Workforce Development, and Labour. According to Minister MacKinnon, the program targets supporting more than 3,500 health professionals through various initiatives including work placements, providing wage subsidies, and offering mentoring, training, and coaching opportunities.
This funding is a section of a larger budgetary framework introduced in Budget 2024, which allocates an additional $50 million over two years expressly for the FCRP. The program's aim is to address vacancies in healthcare jobs and better facilitate service provision within medical facilities throughout the country.
Overall, the funding is directed toward meeting healthcare sector workforce demands and integrating international professionals into the existing healthcare system.