Ontario, a province in east-central Canada, will restrict international students from attending medical schools starting 2026.
Gatekeepers News reports that Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Sylvia Jones announced that 95% of medical school spots will prioritize Ontario residents, allocating the remaining 5% to students from other Canadian provinces.
This decision follows Canada’s efforts to limit immigration and prioritize citizens’ economic opportunities.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently announced reduced targets for permanent resident admissions over the next three years.
Currently, 88% of Ontario medical school spots are held by provincial residents, making this shift relatively minor. However, it reflects broader changes, including capped international student enrollment and stricter temporary foreign worker eligibility.
To address local healthcare needs, Ontario expands its tuition coverage program for students committing to family medicine practice with a “full roster of patients.”
Notably, 2.5 million Ontarians lack a family doctor, according to the Ontario College of Family Physicians.
