Ontario is investing $55.8 million to support the planning and operations of York University’s new School of Medicine, a project the provincial government says will strengthen the province’s primary care workforce and improve access to family physicians.
Announced in Vaughan on July 30, the funding will help establish what Ontario describes as the province’s first medical school dedicated specifically to training family doctors. The school is expected to welcome its inaugural class in 2028 and forms part of Ontario’s broader strategy to expand medical education and address growing demand for primary care services.
Funding Supports Planning and Future Operations
The provincial investment will cover key startup and operational costs, including accreditation, curriculum development, faculty recruitment, medical library resources, undergraduate and postgraduate training, and other operating expenses.
When it opens, the York University School of Medicine will offer 80 undergraduate and 102 postgraduate training positions. At full capacity, enrolment is expected to grow to 240 undergraduate seats and 293 postgraduate residency positions.
The latest funding builds on the province’s earlier $9 million investment announced in 2024 to begin planning and designing the new medical school.
Province Aims to Strengthen Family Doctor Workforce
Ontario says expanding family medicine training is central to its plan to ensure residents have access to primary care closer to home.
“Ontario-trained family doctors are the backbone of our health-care system, providing compassionate care for our loved ones from everyday checkups to life’s greatest challenges,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “This investment will ensure that Ontario has a strong pipeline of family care providers to deliver excellent care for decades to come.”
Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones said the investment forms part of a broader provincial expansion of physician education.
“Our government is strengthening Ontario’s world-class physician workforce through the largest medical education expansion in over a decade,” said Sylvia Jones. “Today’s $55.8 million investment in planning and operations at the new York School of Medicine brings us a step closer to adding hundreds of new family medicine seats, which will support the primary care needs of our province for generations to come.”
York University Plans Community-Based Medical Education
Regional Partnerships Will Support Clinical Training
York University says the new school will emphasize community-based education and partnerships with regional hospitals and health-care providers serving northern Toronto, York Region, Simcoe County, Muskoka, and surrounding communities.
“We are deeply grateful for this $55.8 million investment from the Government of Ontario, which serves as a powerful vote of confidence in our vision for the York University School of Medicine,” said Lisa Philipps, Interim President and Vice-Chancellor of York University. “This will be a school where physicians are trained for the health system Ontarians need. Together with our hospital and other health care partners, we are building a community-based model of medical education that will expand access to care across northern Toronto, York Region, Simcoe County, Muskoka and beyond as we move toward accreditation and prepare to welcome our inaugural class in 2028.”
According to Dr. David Peters, Dean of Record for the York University School of Medicine, the institution will introduce a curriculum focused specifically on preparing physicians for evolving community health needs.
“In building a medical school dedicated to training family and generalist physicians, we aim to transform how doctors are educated, equipping them to adapt to the changing needs of our communities and our health system. Through our unique-in-Canada curriculum, including an accelerated three-year MD program, residency training, and partnerships with local health care providers, we’re championing person-centred care that leverages deep community learning experiences to strengthen community health from home to hospital.”
Largest Medical Education Expansion in More Than a Decade
The York School of Medicine is part of Ontario’s largest medical education expansion in over 10 years.
The initiative includes additional seats at the province’s existing six medical schools, alongside the opening of Toronto Metropolitan University’s School of Medicine, which welcomed its first class in 2025.
By 2033, Ontario expects to have eight medical schools, with a combined total of 1,292 undergraduate and 1,739 postgraduate medical training positions once current expansion projects are fully implemented.
The government also announced that beginning in fall 2026, at least 95 per cent of undergraduate medical school seats across Ontario will be reserved for Ontario residents, with the remaining five per cent available to applicants from elsewhere in Canada.
Additionally, the new Ontario Learn and Stay Grant – Medical Education will provide financial support to students who commit to practising family medicine anywhere in Ontario for five years following graduation.
Health System Partners Welcome Investment
Health-care organizations partnering with York University welcomed the announcement, saying the school will strengthen physician recruitment and expand access to care across rapidly growing communities.
Leaders from Mackenzie Health, Oak Valley Health, Southlake Health, Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare, and Collingwood General and Marine Hospital all expressed support for the project, highlighting its potential to improve community-based medical education while helping address long-term physician shortages.
Municipal leaders also endorsed the investment, with Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca describing the school as a significant addition to the Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct and the city’s growing role in health-care innovation.
Conclusion
Ontario’s $55.8 million investment marks another significant step in expanding the province’s medical education system as demand for family physicians continues to grow. With York University’s School of Medicine expected to open in 2028, the province aims to strengthen the pipeline of primary care providers while improving access to community-based health services for residents across Ontario.