Regulatory change could see thousands more internationally trained nurses in Ontario.
The province has given Ontario's nursing college permission to go ahead with regulatory changes that could see thousands more internationally trained nurses get into practice more quickly.
Last month, Health Minister Sylvia Jones ordered the College of Nurses of Ontario to come up with plans to quickly register professionals trained in foreign countries.
Jones has now told the college to draft those amendments to regulation immediately.
Once approved by the government, the college should begin registering those nurses right away.
This is being done to address critical staffing shortages within Ontario's health care system.
Numerous hospitals across the province have been forced to temporarily close emergency room doors due to a lack of staff.
Jones has also given the College of Physicians of Ontario and Surgeons of Ontario the go ahead to create a temporary, three-month registration for doctors licensed in other provinces.