Province’s $3.4 Billion Primary Care Action Plan Aims to Connect Every Ontarian to a Family Doctor by 2029
HAMILTON, Ontario — The Ontario government is continuing its push to improve access to primary health care with new investments in Hamilton, as part of its $3.4 billion Primary Care Action Plan designed to connect every resident in the province to a family doctor or primary care team by 2029.
During a visit to the Hamilton Family Health Team on Tuesday, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones highlighted the progress being made through the province’s ongoing investment in expanding access to primary care services. The Hamilton Family Health Team is among nearly 200 organizations across Ontario receiving funding under the province’s long-term strategy to improve access to family physicians and interdisciplinary care teams.
The Hamilton Family Health Team received $834,200 through the 2025–26 call for proposals under the Primary Care Action Plan. Since beginning patient enrollment in August 2025, the clinic has connected more than 2,744 patients to primary care, surpassing its original enrollment goal of 2,275 patients by 121 per cent.
Hamilton Exceeds Enrollment Expectations
The provincial government says expanding primary care remains a central component of its broader health-care strategy, with the goal of reducing pressure on hospitals while ensuring residents receive timely preventative and ongoing medical care closer to home.
“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 Hamilton, 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.”
According to the province, nearly 90 per cent of Ontarians are already connected to a primary care provider, the highest rate among Canadian provinces. Officials say the remaining effort will focus on ensuring every resident has access to a family physician, nurse practitioner or interdisciplinary care team within the next three years.
Residents seeking a new primary care provider are encouraged to register through the province’s Health Care Connect program.
Province Expands Primary Care Network Across Ontario
Funding Supports Hundreds of New and Expanded Care Teams
Ontario launched the Primary Care Action Plan in January 2025 following the appointment of Dr. Jane Philpott as chair of the Primary Care Action Team in October 2024. The initiative aims to connect approximately two million additional people to primary care by 2029 through investments exceeding $3.4 billion.
To date, the province has completed two rounds of funding for new and expanded interprofessional primary care teams. The government says 199 successful applicants have been selected, with the capacity to connect approximately 800,000 more Ontarians to primary care services.
The latest funding round includes 124 successful applicants that are expected to connect an additional 500,000 patients, including many currently registered on the Health Care Connect waitlist.
Integrated Care Teams and Digital Records at the Centre of Strategy
The government’s strategy extends beyond increasing the number of providers. Officials are also advancing a provincewide Primary Care Medical Record system intended to integrate patient records, reduce administrative work for clinicians and improve care coordination across the health-care system.
Primary care teams typically include physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, practical nurses, physiotherapists, social workers, dietitians and other health professionals working collaboratively under one roof. The province says this team-based model improves early diagnosis, ongoing management of chronic conditions and preventative care while helping reduce unnecessary visits to hospital emergency departments.
The government also noted continued efforts to expand Ontario’s health-care workforce. Since 2018, more than 20,000 physicians have been added across the province, including a more than 14 per cent increase in family doctors. In 2025 alone, more than 2,300 nurses and over 570 physicians licensed in the United States chose to practise in Ontario following changes aimed at streamlining professional registration.
Hamilton Family Health Team Highlights Community Impact
Gloria Jordan, CEO of the Hamilton Family Health Team, said the provincial investment has already helped improve access to care for residents who had spent years waiting to secure a family physician or nurse practitioner.
“With the nearly $5 million recent investment from the Province of Ontario, in collaboration with our local partners within our Greater Hamilton Health Network region and our Primary Care Network, we are reaching those who have been waiting for a family doctor or nurse practitioner for many years. The incredible stories we hear from people as they get connected within their local neighbourhood are inspiring. This is lifechanging work made possible by our Province, our partners, and the people of primary care—the family physicians and their teams, interdisciplinary health-care professionals and staff who serve our community every day. Together, we are leading the way towards healthier communities and team-based primary care for all.”
The investment forms part of the province’s broader Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, which focuses on strengthening Ontario’s health-care workforce, expanding access to community-based services and improving patient care across the province.