6 févr. 2026
Dear Members,
As we begin 2026, the MLPAO remains committed to ensuring Ontario’s medical laboratory sector stays front and centre with government decision‑makers. Following our successful lobby day in November, we moved immediately into this year’s provincial budget consultation cycle to ensure the needs of labs — and the professionals who keep them running — are reflected in the upcoming Ontario Budget.
Strengthening Our Voice through Media
Our advocacy continues to gain national and local attention, helping amplify the realities facing Ontario’s medical laboratory system:
Sudbury.com – Jessie Clelland on the impact of the LifeLabs closure
CBC News – Ontario labs understaffed; educators urgently needed
These stories help ensure the challenges and contributions of medical laboratory professionals remain visible to the public and policymakers. Visit our News page for more media coverage and updates.
Advocacy Win:
Ontario Learn and Stay Grant Expansion
Our advocacy is already producing tangible results. In January, the Ontario government expanded the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant to include two new medical laboratory programs in Northern Ontario. Students enrolled at Canadore College and Confederation College will now have full tuition, books, and compulsory fees covered if they commit to working in Northern Ontario after graduation.
This expansion strengthens the future laboratory workforce and supports the regions that experience the most urgent staffing pressures.
Our 2026 Provincial Budget Request
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario returns on March 23, with the provincial budget expected that same week. This is a critical window to secure investments that stabilize our workforce and ensure the sustainability of medical laboratory services across the province.
Addressing the Clinical Placement Bottleneck
To address the primary barrier to training more Medical Laboratory Technologists — the shortage of clinical placements — the MLPAO has submitted a formal budget request for:
📌 $6.25 million over three years
This investment would fund 52 full‑time equivalent preceptors to support training for approximately 226 additional MLT students. These placements would be concentrated in rural, remote, and high‑need hospital labs where staffing shortages are most severe.
How Hospitals Were Selected
Hospitals included in our proposal were identified using data from the MLPAO’s recent sector‑wide survey. Selection was based on:
Survey responses from participating hospitals
Their expressed interest and readiness to take on a preceptor
Prioritization of Northern, rural, and remote communities
Inclusion of a small number of larger centres that indicated capacity to train additional students
This approach ensures the requested investment is targeted, equitable, and aligned with the regions facing the most significant workforce pressures.
We have also provided government stakeholders with a hospital‑by‑hospital breakdown outlining where funding would go and the expanded training capacity it would create.
Engaging Directly in Budget Consultations
Thank you to the MLPAO leaders and members who represented our profession in budget consultations across Ontario. Your expertise and frontline insight ensure that policymakers hear directly from those working in our labs every day.
Recent engagements include:
Michelle Hoad, CEO, MLPAO — Ministry of Finance consultations in Hamilton, followed by a thank‑you letter from Hon. Neil Lumsden, Minister of Sport and MPP for Hamilton East–Stoney Creek
Andrea Tjahja, VP of Operations, MLPAO — Ministry of Finance consultations in Brampton
Dennis Garvin, CEO, Eastern Ontario Regional Laboratory Association — Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs hearings in Ottawa
Nancy Girard, Laboratory & Pharmacy Manager, Timmins and District Hospital — Standing Committee budget consultations in Kapuskasing
Jessie Clelland, Canadian Blood Services — Standing Committee budget consultations in Sudbury
Your voices are vital — and they are being heard.
Help Amplify Our 2026 Advocacy Ask
We now need your support to ensure every MPP understands the importance of investing in clinical placement capacity.
How You Can Help
Request a meeting with your local MPP
You can find your MPP and their contact information here. Emailing or mailing a letter — or arranging a meeting — helps reinforce our shared message:Ontario cannot stabilize its healthcare system without investing in the medical laboratory workforce.Every letter strengthens our voice.