The mandate of the MLPAO is to be the voice of lab professionals. All healthcare decisions are made at the provincial level, therefore it is imperative that the MLPAO continue to represent medical lab professionals, advocating for the resources, recognition, and support they need to provide quality care across Ontario.
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The MLPAO has been working and meeting with the various ministries of the Ontario government to discuss the current state of the health human resource shortage across the province. Our hard work paid off with the inclusion of the Learn and Stay Grant for St. Clair College (stclaircollege.ca) and Cambrian College Ontario Learn and Stay Grant (cambriancollege.ca) in the 2023 Ontario Budget.

In 2024, we successfully secured funding for 700 additional seats for Medical Laboratory Technologists (MLTs) and Medical Radiation Technologists (MRTs). In 2025 we saw the expansion of most MLT programs in the province and we look forward to seeing these seats be utilized over the next three years. 

We are pleased to share our 2026 Pre-Budget Submission, highlighting the ongoing impact of MLT shortages across Ontario laboratories. Our recent survey revealed that many labs not currently accepting students would be able to offer clinical placements if funding were available to support a dedicated preceptor. View our full submission below, where we outline concrete solutions to help address this challenge.​