BRAMPTON — Ontario is moving forward with a major expansion of its health system, pledging more than $250 million to connect an additional 500,000 people with family doctors and primary care teams. The initiative, announced Monday by the Ministry of Health, is part of the government’s $2.1 billion Primary Care Action Plan and aims to ensure every resident has access to primary care by 2029.
The funding will support the creation and expansion of approximately 75 primary care teams across the province, building on earlier investments made this year. Officials said the move brings Ontario closer to its goal of adding more than 300 new teams in total, which would provide publicly funded care to two million more people over the next four years.
“Our government is delivering on our plan to connect everyone in Ontario to primary care, when and where they need it, for years to come,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “These new and expanded primary care teams bring us one step closer to fulfilling that promise as we continue to make record investments in primary care to protect Ontario’s health-care system.”
Expanding Team-Based Care
Primary care teams are designed to bring together a range of health professionals — including physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, physician assistants, physiotherapists, dieticians, pharmacists and social workers — under one roof. The interprofessional approach allows patients to receive more convenient and connected care, often closer to home.
Communities across Ontario are now eligible to apply for funding under the new call for proposals. The province has issued guidance to Ontario Health Teams, encouraging submissions that reflect local gaps in access to care. Successful applicants are expected to be announced in spring 2026.
The expanded care teams will prioritize patients already on the Health Care Connect waitlist. That list has already shrunk by more than 98,000 people, or 42 per cent, since January 1, 2025.
“Together we are building a primary care system that is truly comprehensive, convenient and connected – one that serves every person in Ontario,” said Dr. Jane Philpott, Chair of Ontario’s Primary Care Action Team. “Thanks to historic investments from the government, we’re making tangible progress in improving access to primary care and attaching every person to a family doctor, nurse practitioner or primary care team.”
Building on Recent Investments
The new funding follows a $235 million commitment made in June, which supported over 130 primary care teams serving 300,000 additional patients. Some of those teams have already begun accepting new patients, according to the government.
Since 2018, Ontario has added nearly 20,000 physicians to its workforce, including a 14 per cent increase in family doctors. The province is also making it easier for U.S.-licensed nurses and board-certified doctors to move to Ontario. So far in 2025, almost 1,400 nurses and more than 260 physicians have registered to practise in the province.
Sector Response
The announcement drew widespread support from professional organizations, who said the funding would help address longstanding gaps in access to primary care.
“We welcome the province’s continued investment in interprofessional primary care teams. Connecting 500,000 more Ontarians to primary care isn’t just a number, it’s about better health, stronger communities, and more equitable access to the care people deserve,” said Jess Rogers, CEO of the Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario.
Dr. Jobin Varughese, President of the Ontario College of Family Physicians, said: “Family physicians are the foundation of our health system and the communities they serve. When family physicians work alongside a team, patients are able to get the right care, from the right provider, at the right time.”
Nursing groups also praised the expansion of team-based care. “RNAO welcomes today’s announcement as another important step toward ensuring every Ontarian is attached to a primary care provider – nurse practitioner or family doctor – and an interprofessional team,” said Dr. Doris Grinspun, CEO of the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario.
Dr. NP Michelle Acorn, CEO of the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario, called nurse practitioners “a largely untapped resource” and said the expansion of nurse practitioner-led clinics would ensure more timely and comprehensive care.
Equity and Access
Leaders from Indigenous and community-governed health organizations emphasized that the investment could help address health inequities across the province.
“This investment represents meaningful progress in building a more equitable health system. For Indigenous communities and others who have long faced barriers to care, connecting more people with primary care teams is a vital step toward better health and well-being for Indigenous and Non-Indigenous generations to come,” said Caroline Lidstone-Jones, CEO of the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council.
Sarah Hobbs, CEO of the Alliance for Healthier Communities, added: “Strong, equitable primary health care is the basis of a healthier Ontario, and we look forward to working with government, partners and members to make this vision a reality by 2029.”
Matthew Anderson, President and CEO of Ontario Health, said the system remains “highly focused on connecting Ontarians to comprehensive primary health care, especially in the highest needs communities.”
Looking Ahead
Ontario’s Primary Care Act, passed earlier this year, formally establishes primary care as the foundation of the province’s health system. The legislation outlines six objectives for publicly funded care, clarifying what Ontarians can expect when connecting with primary care providers.
With this latest funding round, the government said it is delivering on its promise to connect more residents to family doctors and interprofessional care teams — and reaffirming its commitment to build a sustainable health system for generations to come.
