Red tape is forcing qualified nurses to leave Ontario
- Kelly Skjerven
- May 6
- 1 min read
By Kelly Skjerven, May 6 2025
While Ontario deals with a chronic shortage of registered nurses — 26,000 are needed to catch up to the nurse-to-patient-ratio of the rest of Canada — internationally educated nurses are getting lost in the system. Nina Piao moved to Canada in 2022 with over a decade of nursing experience in the Philippines. After clearing every professional hurdle and assessment in Ontario, she hit a wall. Her permanent residency was denied. Here’s what health-care experts warn.
Wait, what?! Piao’s permanent residency application was denied because her educational credentials did not meet the equivalency standards for a Canadian bachelor’s degree. That was after graduating from Seneca College, registering with the College of Nurses of Ontario and getting hired at Michael Garron Hospital in Toronto.
Go deeper: Registered nurse Karim Wannous thrived in the emergency room in Lebanon. In 2024, he was working at a Toronto insurance company. Here’s more on the uphill battle internationally educated nurses face while trying to practise in Ontario.
Investigation: Internal reports revealed nurses in some Ontario hospitals are facing overwhelming patient loads that are undermining care and risk triggering staff burnout.
