Ontario is committing another $250 million to expand access to family doctors and primary care teams, with the province targeting connections for an additional 600,000 residents as part of its broader effort to provide universal primary care access by 2029.
The investment, announced at the 2026 Association of Municipalities of Ontario Conference in Ottawa, will support the creation or expansion of approximately 78 primary care teams. Communities across Ontario will be eligible to apply when the next call for proposals opens in September 2026.
The funding forms part of Ontario’s $3.4-billion Primary Care Action Plan, which is intended to add more than 300 new primary care teams and connect two million additional people with care.
“As we work to connect every person in Ontario to a family doctor or primary care team by 2029, we’re making historic investments to bring more care directly into communities across the province,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “This next call for proposals will connect 600,000 more people to family doctors and primary care teams, keep families healthier and relieve pressure on emergency departments.”
Province Expands Primary Care Action Plan
Ontario established its Primary Care Action Team, chaired by Dr. Jane Philpott, in December 2024 with a mandate to help connect every resident to primary care by 2029. The province subsequently launched its Primary Care Action Plan in January 2025.
According to the government, nearly 90 per cent of Ontario residents are currently connected to a primary care provider. Since the action plan was launched, more than 437,000 people have been connected to primary care.
Two previous funding rounds have resulted in 199 successful applicants receiving support for new or expanded interprofessional primary care teams. Those projects are expected to connect approximately 800,000 additional residents.
Another 124 successful applicants are receiving funding through the 2026-27 call for proposals, with those teams expected to connect 500,000 patients, including people currently on the Health Care Connect waitlist.
“Every person in Ontario deserves access to a primary care team who knows them and can support their health over time,” said Dr. Jane Philpott, Chair of the Primary Care Action Team. “The next call for proposals will help connect hundreds of thousands more people to comprehensive, team-based care in their communities and moves us closer to achieving our shared goal of connecting everyone to primary care by 2029.”
Team-Based Care Targets Pressure on Emergency Departments
Primary care teams bring together physicians, nurse practitioners, registered and practical nurses, physiotherapists, social workers, dietitians and other health professionals. The model is designed to give patients access to multiple services while improving continuity of care and reducing unnecessary pressure on hospital emergency departments.
“Thank you to Minister Jones and the Ford government for providing this greatly needed investment in connecting patients with family doctors and primary care. Team based care and integrating health-care professionals to work together to meet the needs of patients is vitally important to ensuring every Ontarian has access to health care.”
- Dr. Rebecca Hicks, President, Ontario Medical Association
“Continued investment in primary care teams is good news for family physicians and patients across Ontario. By expanding access to team-based care, family doctors are better supported to respond to the increasingly complex needs of their patients. We are encouraged by the progress being made through Ontario’s Primary Care Action Plan and look forward to continuing to work with government to expand access to team-based resources for family physicians. Together, we must ensure every Ontarian can access a family physician and the primary care they need, when they need it.”
- Dr. Jobin Varughese, President, Ontario College of Family Physicians
Ontario Looks to Expand Health-Care Workforce
The primary care expansion comes alongside provincial measures aimed at increasing Ontario’s health-care workforce. Since 2018, the province says more than 20,000 physicians have been added to the workforce, including an increase of more than 14 per cent in family doctors.
Ontario is also making it easier for U.S.-licensed nurses and board-certified physicians to practise in the province. In 2025, more than 2,300 nurses and over 570 doctors from the United States chose to practise in Ontario, according to provincial figures.
The government is also advancing a provincewide Primary Care Medical Record system intended to better integrate patient records, improve coordination and reduce administrative work for family doctors and other primary care providers.
Next Funding Applications to Open in September
Ontario Health Teams are expected to receive guidance ahead of the September call for proposals. The latest funding round will focus on expanding comprehensive, team-based services in communities across the province.
“Every Ontarian deserves timely access to primary care close to home. RNAO welcomes this investment in interprofessional primary care teams and the government’s continued focus on connecting more people to care. Registered nurses and nurse practitioners are key to making this vision a reality.”
- Dr. Doris Grinspun, CEO, Registered Nurses Association of Ontario
Residents who do not currently have a family doctor or nurse practitioner can register through Health Care Connect or call 811. The province says continued investments in primary care teams, workforce expansion and digital health infrastructure will remain central to its goal of connecting every Ontario resident to primary care by 2029.