ITPC Welcomes Court Intervention on Ontario MOH's Discriminatory Eligibility Policy re: CaRMS 2025-2026 R-1 Match First Iteration

On October 8, 2025, the Ontario Ministry of Health implemented a new eligibility policy affecting the 2025-26 CaRMS R-1 residency match cycle across all Ontario programs. Introduced mid-cycle, this policy excludes all Internationally Trained Physicians (ITPs) who did not complete at least two years of Ontario high school. This abrupt change immediately raised serious concerns about fairness, equity, and most importantly, access to care for Ontarians.

Today’s court decision to halt this policy is a critical and necessary intervention. We are thankful that qualified, hard working and deserving ITPs have had their rights upheld. However, it is deeply concerning that such a discriminatory rule had to be challenged in court to protect the basic rights of physicians who already call Ontario home and serve its communities.

ITPs are a vital part of Ontario’s healthcare workforce. They support hospitals, walk-in clinics, long-term care, and underserved communities across the province. At a time of historic physician shortages, exclusionary policies harm both doctors and patients.

While today’s outcome offers temporary relief, it does not resolve the deeper systemic issues including residency selection criteria that do not capture ITP strengths, dysfunctional and fragmented licensure pathways, and persistent bias against immigrant internationally trained physicians. The need for fair, transparent, and evidence-based processes remains urgent. The work continues.

#changereversed! Learn More: www.itpsofcanada.ca/carmschanges