Canada needs more health care workers as our provincial systems continue to experience a shortage of trained professionals.

Canada needs more health care workers as our provincial systems continue to experience a shortage of trained professionals.

With too few Canadian graduates entering the health care sector each year, we can help alleviate the labour shortage by recruiting internationally trained professionals, and making it easier for them to have their credentials recognized so they can practice in their field.

Today, I announced new funding under the Foreign Credential Recognition Program that will help:

• Reduce barriers to foreign credential recognition for internationally educated health professionals

• Provide internationally trained health professionals with Canadian work experience

• Facilitate labour mobility between jurisdictions within Canada for health care professionals

This new funding will support efforts by provincial and territorial governments, municipal councils, industry associations, regulatory bodies, post-secondary institutions, and non-profit organizations that are designed to allow more health care professionals to practice in Canada.

I can’t wait to see the impact this will have on improving access to care across Canada, including on our communities at home!