The Government of Ontario recently announced a $56.8-million investment to train an additional 2,200 nurses across the province by 2029, including in the City of Hamilton.
From the investment, Mohawk College will receive over $7 million to expand enrollment in their nursing programs, which will allow them to train up to 390 additional nurses by 2029.
The government says that Ontario needs more nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and registered practical nurses to meet the demand in hospitals, long-term care homes, community health centres, and primary care clinics.
Nolan Quinn, Ontario’s Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security, said, “Nurses are an integral part of Ontario’s health-care system, providing life-saving and compassionate care when patients need it the most.”
“Our government continues to expand nursing enrollment in our colleges and universities to ensure we are building the health-care workforce we need to protect Ontario health care and ensure people can continue to access excellent care, close to home.”
The province is also providing a one-time investment of $7.5 million to help universities purchase nursing clinical supplies and laboratory equipment.
A press release says that the investment “will equip nursing students with cutting-edge tools for hands-on training to the skills they need to thrive in their career.”
The press release also notes that Ontario is expanding registration in “innovative, flexible online nursing training to help personal support workers and registered practical nurses seeking to advance their education.”
The province says that the online pathways will allow personal support workers to pursue a Practical Nursing diploma and registered practical nurses to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
Since 2018, Ontario has reportedly added nearly 100,000 new nurses and there are 30,000 students currently studying at Ontario colleges and universities to become nurses.
The government also launched the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant in 2023-24 which has provided over $96 million in support to more than 8,200 students and has increased the number of nurses, paramedics, and medical laboratory technologists in key areas of need across the province.
In June, the Government of Ontario also announced a $4.2-million investment to accelerate nursing programs and add seats in rural and northern programs.
The investment in nursing enrollment was also praised by Dr. Doris Grinspun, the CEO of the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (RNAO).
“RNAO applauds the Ontario government for strengthening nursing education by adding 2,200 new seats to help address staffing shortages,” she said.
“Alongside this important investment, the government and employers must also prioritize retaining existing nursing talent – by ensuring safe staffing, competitive compensation across all sectors, and healthy work environments.”
Based in Hamilton, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
