TORONTO — The Ontario government is spending nearly $75 million over the next three years to train thousands of long-term care workers, Minister of Long-Term Care Natalia Kusendova-Bashta announced Friday in Ottawa.Speaking at the Collège Boréal Ottawa campus, Kusendova-Bashta said more than $58 million will support four training programs, while up to $15.5 million will go to the Supporting Professional Growth Fund in 2026-27.The largest allocation is $22.5 million over three years for the Bridging Education Grant in Nursing (BEGIN) program, which covers tuition and related supports for personal support workers and registered practical nurses seeking to advance into higher nursing roles in exchange for a work commitment in long-term care. The program has already helped more than 1,500 participants and is expected to add 877 more nurses.An additional $18 million over three years will fund the PSW District School Board Bursary Program, aimed at helping 6,000 more people complete personal support worker training. Collège Boréal will receive $3.89 million over three years for its Francophone PSW Learn and Earn Program, which has already qualified 65 French-speaking staff since 2024 and is set to train up to 120 more. Another $13.8 million over two years will support personal support worker, practical nursing, and pre-health programs at eight Indigenous Institutes..The Supporting Professional Growth Fund, which has assisted more than 143,000 staff since 2022, can be used by long-term care homes for course fees, backfilling staff during training, and in-house education.Kusendova-Bashta, who is also Minister of Francophone Affairs and a registered nurse, said the spending addresses the growing complexity of care. Residents today are often non-ambulatory, require more medical support, and stay an average of three years. She noted that more than 16,000 additional staff have been hired over the past four years, resulting in residents receiving more than one extra hour of direct care per day — a 40% increase.“It means that there is time for meaningful interactions. It means there’s time to develop therapeutic relationships,” the minister said..MPP George Darouze (Carleton) joined the announcement. Sector leaders also welcomed the funding.“With this substantial funding, Boréal will be able to strengthen the skills of a workforce that is essential to serving the most vulnerable,” said Daniel Giroux, President of Collège Boréal.Lori Singh, CEO of the Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario, said the renewed support for BEGIN “will assist in the continued growth of a strong nursing workforce.”The government framed the spending as part of its broader plan to improve long-term care through staffing, quality enforcement, modern homes, and better access to services. Ontario is also building 58,000 new and upgraded long-term care beds across the province.
