Ontario Regulation 81/26 establishes the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant for Medical Education, creating a new financial assistance program aimed at encouraging newly trained physicians to remain in Ontario for their medical residency and, ultimately, their professional practice. Made under the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Act, the regulation applies to medical residents who begin residency on or after July 1, 2026. The initiative expands Ontario’s existing strategy of linking education funding to workforce retention in sectors facing persistent shortages, particularly in health care. By directing support toward graduates entering postgraduate medical training, the province is attempting to strengthen the long-term supply of physicians in communities where access to care remains limited.

The regulation sets out who may qualify for the grant and how it can be accessed. Applicants must apply directly to the Minister and identify the periods of study covered by the request as well as the approved Ontario institution where they completed their medical degree. A grant can cover up to four periods of study at the institution where the student completed an approved medical program. To qualify, an applicant must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person under federal immigration law, must satisfy Ontario residency requirements, must have completed an approved medical degree at an approved Ontario university, and must be enrolled as a medical resident in an approved postgraduate medical education program. Publicly assisted Ontario universities offering medical education are automatically recognized as approved institutions under the regulation.

Residency requirements play a central role in the program. Applicants generally must have lived in Ontario for at least twelve consecutive months before beginning residency and must not have lived in another province or territory for a similar period after establishing Ontario residency. Time spent in full-time post-secondary studies does not count toward that calculation. However, the regulation also provides flexibility for applicants who may not fully meet the standard residency test but who currently live in Ontario, are entering residency in the province, or have previously received student assistance through Ontario. This allows the program to remain accessible to individuals whose education or training may have temporarily taken them outside the province.

Several safeguards are included to protect public funds. The Minister may refuse a grant if an applicant already receives similar financial support from another government, participates in another return-of-service program, has defaulted on previous loans, provided inaccurate information, or has been convicted of fraud involving student assistance. Individuals who fail to meet repayment obligations may also be barred from future eligibility for up to five years. Bankruptcy rules are also addressed, preventing grants from being issued to applicants who remain undischarged bankrupts or who have unresolved debt obligations from earlier student loans.

Ontario (81/2026) April 15, 2026
Disclaimer: Insights are for informational purposes only and does not reflect RRI’s official position or constitute legal opinion.