Ontario’s Bill 56 Expands Mobility for Dentists and Hygienists Across Canada

The Government of Ontario has introduced a new piece of legislation called the Building a More Competitive Economy Act, 2025 (Bill 56), which aims to make it easier for health-care professionals — including dentists and dental hygienists — to work in the province. The bill seeks to expand Ontario’s “as-of-right” framework, allowing professionals who are licensed and in good standing in another Canadian province or territory to practise in Ontario without undergoing lengthy requalification or administrative procedures.

At present, Ontario’s “as-of-right” practice rights apply only to four professions: physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and medical laboratory technologists. Bill 56 proposes to broaden that list to include an additional sixteen regulated professions, among them dentists, dental hygienists, denturists, and dental technologists. This change could significantly improve mobility within Canada’s health-care sector, allowing qualified practitioners to relocate and begin working in Ontario much more quickly.

The provincial government argues that these reforms will help reduce red tape, address workforce shortages, and boost economic competitiveness. Officials emphasize that simplifying licensing processes is essential to ensuring that Ontario remains attractive to health-care professionals from across the country, particularly amid ongoing shortages in clinical and dental care services.

For dental professionals, the new legislation could mean faster recognition of credentials, fewer bureaucratic delays, and greater career flexibility. A dentist or hygienist currently licensed in another province would be able to begin practising in Ontario almost immediately, provided they meet the basic conditions of good standing and professional competence.

While Bill 56 has been introduced and debated in the provincial legislature, it must still pass several additional readings and receive Royal Assent before it officially becomes law. If enacted, it could mark a major step toward creating a more unified and mobile dental workforce across Canada.

Original Article:

“What Ontario’s new bill means for dentists and dental hygienists across Canada.”

Published by OralHealthGroup.com, October 22, 2025.