Ontario Continues to Protect Health-Care Workforce in the North

NORTH BAY — The Ontario government is continuing to deliver on its commitment to protect the province’s health-care system by expanding the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant (OLSG) to include two new medical laboratory programs in Northern Ontario.

Building on the success of OLSG, students participating in the medical laboratory technology program at Canadore College and the medical laboratory science program at Confederation College will be able to have their tuition, books and other educational costs fully covered if they commit to working in Northern Ontario after graduation. This further bolsters Ontario’s highly skilled health-care workforce in the North, helping more people conveniently connect to care, close to home.

“Through the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant, our government is bringing highly skilled health-care workers to communities and families that need them most,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “With two new OLSG-eligible medical laboratory programs in Northern Ontario, we’re removing financial barriers to help passionate, dedicated students pursue a world-class education, while connecting more people to high-quality care in their community.”

Both programs are slated to begin welcoming students in fall 2026. Students can learn more about the grant application, as well as information about other eligible programs and regions, at ontario.ca/learnandstay.

This expansion builds on the thousands of highly trained nurses, paramedics and medical laboratory technologists who have been or will be added to the workforce in high-need regions of the province with the support of OLSG. Since its launch in 2023, the government has invested more than $171 million to support 12,700 learners across the province. This includes more than $53 million invested in the North to train 3,850 future health-care workers.

“Our government is continuing to take bold action to ensure Northern Ontario has a strong health-care workforce now and for years to come,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “With these two new medical laboratory programs under the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant, we are making it easier for people to access education and build their careers in the North, connecting more families to the care they need closer to home.”

As of January 2026, there are 200 OLSG students in nursing and paramedicine programs that have either begun or completed their local service commitments and are already delivering exceptional care in communities across Northern Ontario.

“Strengthening community health care is a strategic investment in Northern Ontario’s future,” said George Pirie, Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth. “By expanding the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant, we’re helping train and retain health-care workers in the North, making it easier for people to put down roots, raise families, and build careers. This stability supports local businesses, attracts new workers, and will drive long-term growth across the North.”

The Ontario Learn and Stay Grant is a critical part of the Ontario government’s plan to protect the province’s health-care system and highly skilled workforce to ensure people and their families have access to high-quality health care, close to home.

Quick Facts

• Since 2023, the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant has supported over 11,400 students in nursing programs, over 940 students in paramedicine programs, and over 290 students in MLT programs.

• Applications for the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant will open in Spring 2026 for the 2026-27 academic year.

• Through the Ontario 2025 budget, the government invested $261.7 million into the Ontario Learn and Stay program to continue supporting nurses, paramedics, and lab techs who commit to working in high need regions of the province.

• Through Budget 2025, the government is investing $160 million to cover the educational costs of 4 cohorts of medical students who agree to practicing family medicine anywhere in the province.

  
  

Quotes

"The expansion of Ontario Learn and Stay Grant-eligible programs highlights the essential role colleges play in building a strong, local health-care workforce. Removing financial barriers for students in Northern Ontario helps ensure communities have access to the skilled medical laboratory professionals they need, close to home."

- Maureen Adamson

President and CEO of Colleges Ontario

"The Ontario Learn and Stay Grant plays a critical role in training health-care professionals in Northern Ontario and supporting their retention in the region to meet workforce demands. Canadore College welcomes this funding for our Medical Laboratory Technology program, as it strengthens our ability to prepare skilled health-care workers who are essential to meeting the needs of our communities."

- George Burton

President and CEO of Canadore College

"Confederation College is proud to see the expansion of the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant to our medical laboratory programs, a move that will have a profound impact on health care in Thunder Bay and across Northwestern Ontario. By removing financial barriers and supporting learners who commit to staying in the region, this investment strengthens our communities and helps ensure access to critical diagnostic services close to home. We thank the Government of Ontario for this important investment in building a sustainable, skilled health-care workforce for the North."

- Michelle Salo

President, Confederation College

"With 70% of clinical decisions relying on lab results, stabilizing the medical laboratory professionals' workforce in Northern Ontario and across the province is critical to meet the rising testing demands of our health-care system and ensuring patients get the diagnosis and care they need sooner. By removing financial barriers for MLT students in the North, the government is taking a necessary step towards ensuring Northern communities have improved access to high-quality diagnostic services."

- Michelle Hoad

CEO, Medical Laboratory Professionals’ Association of Ontario

"Through the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant, our government is ensuring that Northern Ontario communities will benefit from a strong, home-grown pipeline of health-care professionals. As Canadore College looks to open their medical laboratory technology program later this year, this grant will play a vital role in supporting the next-generation of health-care workers that are needed to protect our regional health-care system and provide exceptional care close to home after graduating."

- Vic Fedeli

MPP for Nipissing

"The Ontario Learn and Stay Grant is so important as it supports individuals by removing financial barriers to education, while strengthening Northern communities by enabling graduates to return home, build meaningful careers, and serve the people and places that shaped them. This grant allows career building and fosters communities through a skilled homegrown workforce that serves neighbours, families, and friends."

- Bill Rosenberg

MPP for Algoma—Manitoulin

"Thunder Bay continues to benefit from the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant as we grow and strengthen our local health-care workforce. By supporting medical laboratory science program training at Confederation College, our government is helping more students train, stay, and build their careers right here in Northwestern Ontario. This means better access to care for families in Thunder Bay and surrounding communities. Thank you to the students, educators, and health-care workers who are committed to serving our region."

- Kevin Holland

MPP for Thunder Bay – Atikokan

"Having served as a nurse in remote and isolated communities throughout the North, I have seen how critical it is to have health-care professionals close to home. Through our government's Learn and Stay Grant, we are ensuring the training and retention of highly skilled health-care workers who wish to stay and serve their Northern communities, and we thank them for all their work."

- Greg Rickford

MPP for Kenora – Rainy River

"Our government is continuing to provide opportunities to fill gaps in health care in northern Ontario. By approving more eligible programs in the health-care field at northern colleges, it will help bring more highly skilled health-care workers to the north where they can provide coverage in our more rural communities. This news is welcomed as it puts northern communities closer to better and more complete health-care services across the sector."

- Graydon Smith

MPP for Parry Sound-Muskoka

Additional Resources

• About the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant

• About the Ontario Student Assistance Program

• Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care

  
  

MEDIA CONTACT                                                                                              

Stephen Lecce, MPP for King—Vaughan

Constituency Office

Tel.: 647-560-9700        

Email: Stephen.Lecce@pc.ola.org