Brampton, Ont. — Ontario has marked a milestone in its effort to expand access to health care by opening a new medical school at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) in Brampton — the province’s first new medical school in two decades. The facility welcomed its inaugural class of 176 students this fall, supported by a nearly $180 million provincial investment.
Premier Doug Ford said the launch reflects the government’s broader plan to strengthen Ontario’s health-care system.
“Our government is delivering on our plan to protect and improve access to health care in Ontario by opening our first new medical school in 20 years, right here in Brampton,” Ford said. “I want to congratulate all the new students and thank them for their dedication to service in our province, to provide more connected and convenient care to the people of Ontario.”
Expanding Ontario’s Physician Workforce
The provincial funding covers planning and operating costs for TMU’s new Brampton campus, including undergraduate and postgraduate medical education from 2025 through 2028. It also supports two new primary care teaching clinics, ensuring students train in real-world settings while helping expand local access to health care.
At full capacity, the TMU School of Medicine will offer 94 undergraduate seats per year of study and 117 postgraduate positions, significantly increasing Ontario’s pipeline of homegrown physicians.
“Ontario-educated doctors are saving lives and keeping our families and communities healthy,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “TMU’s School of Medicine will equip the next generation of physicians with the cutting-edge skills they need to provide critical care in all corners of our province.”
The Brampton launch is part of the government’s broader health-care expansion strategy. Since 2018, Ontario has added nearly 100,000 new nurses and more than 15,000 new physicians. Another medical school is planned for York University, slated to open in 2028.
Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones said the new campus underscores the province’s long-term vision.
“Our government is protecting Ontario’s health-care system with the largest medical school expansion in over a decade,” Jones said. “With the opening of the TMU School of Medicine, we are ensuring Ontario continues to build a pipeline of future physicians to care for Ontario families for years to come.”
Partnerships and Private Support
In addition to public funding, private donors are playing a role. At the opening ceremony, Orlando Corporation pledged up to $25 million in matching donations for the school, aimed at boosting training opportunities and increasing access to care.
Dr. Mohamed Lachemi, President and Vice-Chancellor of TMU, credited the government and community support for making the project possible.
“The TMU School of Medicine will train a new generation of skilled and compassionate physicians who will help meet the pressing health-care needs of communities across Ontario,” Lachemi said. “We could not have achieved this remarkable result without the strong support of Premier Ford and the province of Ontario. Thank you to our government partners, the Brampton community, our donors and our clinical affiliates, for your generous support and belief in healthy change.”
Broader Health-Care Investments
The Brampton school is part of a suite of measures to expand health education in Ontario. Earlier this year, the government announced a $300 million investment to build up to 17 new or expanded community-based primary care teaching clinics in high-need communities. These clinics, run in partnership with Ontario medical schools, will train doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and registered nurses while expanding front-line access to care.
Other recent measures include nearly $160 million through Budget 2025 to expand the Ontario Learn and Stay program, offering tuition coverage for medical students who commit to practicing as family doctors in the province. The government has also invested almost $57 million to expand nursing seats by 2,200 at Ontario colleges and universities.
Local and Sector Reactions
The opening drew widespread praise from across the medical and academic sectors.
Steve Orsini, President and CEO of the Council of Ontario Universities, said the expansion is vital to meeting demand for primary care.
“We congratulate Toronto Metropolitan University on the opening of its new School of Medicine,” Orsini said. “This builds on existing medical education and training expansions within Ontario universities and will help address the urgent need for family physicians, along with improving primary care capacity across the province.”
Dr. Zainab Abdurrahman, President of the Ontario Medical Association, said the school will strengthen Ontario’s health system for generations.
“This is an exciting and important milestone for health care in Ontario,” Abdurrahman said. “By training more physicians right here at home, we are strengthening the future of care in our communities.”
Local leaders in Brampton emphasized the significance for their city. Mayor Patrick Brown called the opening “a defining moment for our city and for health care in Ontario,” while MPP Charmaine Williams described it as “a transformative milestone for Brampton” that will expand access to care and stimulate economic growth.
Looking Ahead
With TMU’s medical school now open, Ontario will have seven operating medical schools offering more than 1,200 undergraduate seats and 1,600 postgraduate entry positions by 2028–29. Starting in fall 2026, 95 per cent of undergraduate spaces will be reserved for Ontario residents, with the remainder available to applicants from across Canada.
For Brampton, the new school represents a long-awaited step in addressing local health care gaps. For Ontario, it reflects a broader strategy to protect the health system by building a larger pool of homegrown doctors trained in the communities they will serve.
