CHEO receives more funding to attract international medical professionals

More funding is being allocated for CHEO to help fill key positions in the healthcare sector.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Marie-France Lalonde, announced $1.5 million in funding for CHEO's National Newcomer Navigation Network (N4). The project aims to help internationally educated health care professionals fill key positions in Ontario's healthcare labour market.

“CHEO has a proven track record of ensuring health and social service sector professionals have the knowledge and tools they need to provide equitable care and services to newcomers,” said Lalonde. “We are pleased to continue working with the National Newcomer Navigation Network to support healthcare professionals educated abroad in securing jobs in Canada's healthcare sector.” 

The project uses its funding to help with settlement services and information sharing. Health professionals that are new to Ontario can use N4 as a way to find information about foreign qualification and credential recognition.

“These services will help more newcomers succeed, while also helping to build a better future for all Canadians,” said Lalonde.

Other objectives for the project include:

• Aim to identify barriers faced by internationally educated healthcare professionals in having their foreign credentials recognized in Canada
• Provide practical policy recommendations to address gaps in the sector
• Help internationally educated health care professionals access credential and qualification requirements faster
• Remove barriers to working in Canada's healthcare system 

“Newcomers are an integral part of our communities,” said Alex Munter, chief executive officer and president of CHEO. “Their full inclusion in our healthcare workforce will help us address staffing shortages, while also incorporating richly diverse voices of lived experience and better supporting other newcomers.”

The N4 was created in 2019 with goals aimed at breaking down barriers faced by newcomers, including linguistic and cultural hurdles when accessing health and social services.