Ontario is expanding access to family doctors and team-based health services in North York as part of a $3.4-billion provincial strategy aimed at connecting every resident with primary care by 2029.
The province highlighted progress at the Sunnybrook Academic Family Health Team in Toronto, one of nearly 200 teams receiving funding through Ontario’s Primary Care Action Plan. The initiative is intended to expand the province’s primary care capacity while reducing pressure on hospital emergency departments.
Sunnybrook Team Connects Nearly 2,600 Patients
The Sunnybrook Academic Family Health Team received more than $1 million through the 2025–26 call for proposals under the Primary Care Action Plan and began connecting additional patients to care in August 2025.
Since then, the team has signed up nearly 2,600 patients, representing more than 99 per cent of its overall target of 2,613. The province said the results put the organization on track to meet or exceed its target by 2029.
“As we work to connect everyone to primary care by 2029, our government is protecting Ontario’s health-care system by investing in new and expanded primary care teams in Ontario communities, including Toronto, that will keep families healthier while relieving pressures on emergency departments,” said Minister Jones. “We encourage those looking for a new primary care clinician to sign up for Health Care Connect, the fastest and most seamless way to get connected to a family doctor, nurse practitioner or primary care team.”
Ontario says nearly 90 per cent of residents are currently connected to a primary care provider. The government has set a target of universal primary care access by 2029, with Health Care Connect serving as a central registration service for residents seeking a family doctor, nurse practitioner or primary care team.
Primary Care Action Plan Targets Two Million More Residents
The province appointed Dr. Jane Philpott as chair of its Primary Care Action Team in October 2024, with a mandate to help connect every Ontarian to primary care by 2029.
Ontario subsequently established its Primary Care Action Plan in January 2025, backed by more than $3.4 billion in provincial funding. The plan is expected to connect approximately two million additional people with primary care by the end of the decade.
Two rounds of funding for new and expanded primary care teams have resulted in 199 successful applicants, which are expected to connect about 800,000 additional patients across Ontario.
The latest call for proposals includes 124 successful applicants that will receive funding for new or expanded teams. Those organizations are expected to connect another 500,000 patients, including people currently on the Health Care Connect waitlist.
Team-Based Care Expands Across North Toronto
Sunnybrook and its community partners have also reported broader progress in North Toronto, where more than 10,000 residents have been connected to team-based primary care.
“Sunnybrook and the Sunnybrook Academic Family Health Team are proud to partner with Vibrant Community Health, the North Toronto Ontario Health Team, community primary care providers, and many other organizations in a shared commitment to improving access to care for people in North Toronto. Exceeding our goal of connecting 10,000 North Toronto residents to team-based primary care is a remarkable achievement and a testament to what can be accomplished through strong partnerships across the health-care system. This milestone reflects the dedication of teams across our community and demonstrates the impact of innovative, integrated approaches to improving health outcomes for patients. We are grateful for the Ministry of Health’s support and look forward to building on this success to connect even more residents to comprehensive, team-based care.”
– Lori Brady
Vice President, Integrated Care and System Partnerships, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Ontario Looks to Expand Health-Care Workforce
Alongside investments in primary care teams, Ontario is advancing a provincewide Primary Care Medical Record system designed to integrate patient records, improve coordination and reduce administrative work for clinicians.
The province is also seeking to increase its health-care workforce. Since 2018, Ontario says it has added more than 20,000 physicians, including an increase of more than 14 per cent in the number of family doctors.
Ontario has also introduced measures intended to make it easier for U.S.-licensed nurses and board-certified physicians to practise in the province. According to the government, more than 2,300 nurses and over 570 doctors from the United States chose to practise in Ontario in 2025.
The North York expansion forms part of the province’s broader effort to shift more care into community settings. With additional primary care teams, digital record infrastructure and workforce recruitment underway, the government is aiming to close remaining gaps in access and connect every Ontario resident with primary care by 2029.