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- calendar_today October 26, 2026
More Than 511,000 Ontarians Connected to Family Doctors
Ontario has connected more than 511,000 people to family doctors since the start of its primary health care plan last year, Health Minister Sylvia Jones announced Monday. The plan, launched in January 2025, aims to connect every Ontarian to a publicly-funded family physician or primary care team.
Progress Towards 2029 Primary Care Goal
Health Minister Jones stated the province is on track to achieve its goal of ensuring every resident has a primary care provider by 2029. "We are not stopping there. We know there is more work to do," said Jones. The plan is a key part of Ontario's $3.4-billion investment to address gaps in access to primary health care.
Growth in the Healthcare Workforce
Since 2018, the province has added more than 20,000 physicians to the workforce, reflecting a 14% increase in family doctors. The government is also expanding opportunities for medical training, with 340 new undergraduate medical school seats and 551 new postgraduate positions, which is expected to result in a 67% increase in family medicine graduates each year.
Expansion of Medical Education
Ontario is building 18 primary care teaching clinics across the province, one of which has already opened in Brampton to support Toronto Metropolitan University’s new medical school. The province also brought in more than 2,300 nurses and 570 doctors from the United States last year to further strengthen its healthcare workforce.
Clearing the Health Care Connect Waitlist
According to a provincial news release, over 470,000 people have been cleared from the Health Care Connect waitlist since the beginning of 2025. The province currently has a call for proposals seeking to create or expand 78 primary care teams, which officials say could connect another 600,000 people to care.
Investing in Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants
To further support the healthcare system, Ontario is investing $300 million to create up to 170 primary care nurse practitioner seats and 150 physician assistant positions. These expansions aim to address the shortage of primary care providers and improve patient access across the region.
Healthcare System Challenges
The improvements in primary care come amid ongoing challenges in the healthcare sector. Several Ontario hospitals have announced job cuts as they work to tackle financial difficulties. Earlier this month, St. Joseph’s Health Care London stated it would be laying off 85 registered nurses, with plans to move them into other positions. The union representing many workers at Hamilton Health Sciences also forecasted 413 job cuts, including reductions in nursing and health-care aide roles.
Looking Ahead
Minister Jones, speaking alongside Dr. Jane Philpott, who leads Ontario's primary care action team, emphasized the ongoing commitment to building a sustainable healthcare system. With continued expansion of medical education, workforce recruitment, and investment in primary care, the province remains focused on its goal to connect every Ontarian with a family physician by 2029.
Source: cbc.ca.
