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Ontario to bar international students from medical schools starting in 2026

The spots will be reserved largely for Ontario students, with the remainder for people from other parts of Canada
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Ontario Premier Doug Ford, right, and Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones listen to questions from the opposition during question period at Queen's Park in Toronto on December 6, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

OSHAWA, Ont. — Ontario says it will not allow international students in medical schools beginning in the fall of 2026.

The province says at least 95 per cent of medical school spots are to be reserved for Ontario residents and the remainder will be for students from other parts of Canada.

The province is also expanding a program that covers tuition and other educational costs to include students who commit to becoming family doctors in Ontario.

The grant program is expected to cost $88 million and be extended to 1,360 eligible undergraduate students.

The province says the program should allow 1.36 million more Ontarians to connect to primary care.

The Ontario College of Family Physicians says 2.5 million people do not have a family doctor.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 25, 2024.

The Canadian Press