Ontario Regulation 15/25, made under the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015, introduces amendments to Ontario Regulation 422/17, which governs various aspects of the province’s immigration framework. The primary purpose of these amendments is to modify existing provisions related to the nomination of foreign workers, particularly in the context of job offers and specific professional categories.

The first amendment revises subparagraph 9 i of subsection 4 (1) of Ontario Regulation 422/17 by removing the phrase “with a job offer.” This suggests a shift in the eligibility criteria for certain applicants, possibly allowing more flexibility in the nomination process for foreign workers who may not necessarily have a job offer in place at the time of application.

Section 5 of the regulation is also amended in two ways. First, the introductory portion is reworded to clarify the criteria for foreign worker applicants seeking a certificate of nomination if they are or will be employees. Additionally, a new subsection is added to establish criteria for applicants who are or will be self-employed. Under this new provision, self-employed applicants in the foreign worker category must be registered and in good standing with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario in one of the certificate categories that permit patient care. These categories include independent practice, academic practice, and postgraduate education. Furthermore, applicants must be eligible to receive payment for publicly funded health services under the Health Insurance Act.

Further modifications are introduced in Section 10 of the regulation, which now includes a new paragraph, 5.0.1. This change specifies that applicants who are members of the Canadian experience class and whose primary occupation, as identified in the Express Entry system, falls under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes 31100 (Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine), 31101 (Specialists in surgery), or 31102 (General practitioners and family physicians) must meet certain work experience requirements. Specifically, they must have accumulated at least one year of paid full-time work experience, or the equivalent in paid part-time work experience, within three years before the date of their application. This experience must have been gained while lawfully residing and working in Canada and must not have been accumulated during periods of full-time study.

Similarly, Section 11 is amended to include a new paragraph, 3.1, which applies the same work experience requirement to applicants in the Canadian experience class whose primary occupation corresponds to the aforementioned NOC codes. Like the change in Section 10, this provision reinforces the requirement that medical professionals in these specialized fields must have acquired at least one year of paid full-time or equivalent part-time work experience in Canada within three years before their application.

By targeting specific professions and setting clear experience thresholds, Ontario aims to address labor shortages and strengthen its workforce in critical areas, particularly in healthcare.

Ontario (15/25) February 15, 2025