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Healthcare recruitment

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Federal funding expands northern Ontario medical training

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NOSM University is getting a federal investment to establish and grow training facilities.

87 medical centers in municipalities and Indigenous communities across Northern Ontario will receive a piece of the $1,968,386 grant. With this funding, NOSM’s Doctor of Medicine program expects to double its enrollment from 425 to 852 students within the next four years.

“This is to support the hospitals,” said NOSM President Mike Green. “They’re taking in a lot more medical students as a result of this expansion, and they need things to support having our learners on-site that wouldn’t be in their normal budget.”

The grant comes from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor)’s Northern Ontario Development Program. The initiative invests in projects led by municipalities and First Nations that support economic development, job creation and self-reliant communities in the region.

“This will create healthcare jobs, obviously, but it will also make sure we have a region that people don’t just come to work, but to stay,” said FedNor minister and Thunder Bay MP Patty Hadju. “Healthcare is a critical ingredient to growing the north strong and so this is a great fit for FedNor.”

FedNor minister and Thunder Bay MP Patty Hadju speaks at Wednesday’s announcement (Jacob Henriksen-Willis/April 1 2026)

People living with chronic disease in remote northern communities often have to fly in to see a practitioner who might not speak the same language. Hadju says she hopes this grant will attract more medical students from these communities to account for these shortfalls.

“Across Canada, when people have access to education [in their community] and then become doctors, they will choose to practice closer to home,” Hadju said. “That provides better access to care throughout our region.”

An additional 13 medical centers will be classified as Comprehensive Community Clerkship sites, where students will travel to a smaller community and practice family medicine for up to 8 months.

“It’s the longest experience like that in Canada, and those communities will get support through this announcement,” Mike Green said.

doctor holding red stethoscope

Healthcare recruitment supported in Cape Breton South after cuts

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Richmond County and the Town of Port Hawkesbury are not giving up on a Cape Breton healthcare initiative after a huge cut to its funding.

Cape Breton South Recruiting for Health, Program Director, Gina MacDonald confirmed at a Port Hawkesbury council meeting that annual community funding of $2 million was cut by 20 per cent, which is a $400,000 provincial cut.

She explained their goal is to recruit and retain medical professionals and that this area does not get enough recruitment strategy focus.

Deputy Mayor Todd Barrett explained why healthcare is an important piece of a municipality.

“If you’re going to attract people, people need healthcare, it’s part and parcel to the growth of a community. So, you know, a healthy community, you need that for the future,” he expressed.

Mayor Brenda Chisholm-Beaton says although municipalities aren’t the key drivers for finding and keeping medical healthcare, the Town has put funding behind it.

“In Cape Breton South, so Richmond County and the Town of Port Hawkesbury were happy to roll up our sleeves [and] figure out a way that we can impact positive change on the R&R, which is the recruitment and retention of medical healthcare staff,” she shared.

The Cape Breton South Health Infusion project initiative was also created to lure American doctors and healthcare professionals to Canada.

MacDonald said considering the political situation in the United States, a lot of them have made it clear that they will be to make their move to Canada permanent.

She’s created new recruitment packages that give a first impression and share about the community to attract and retain potential new medical professionals.