Monday, September 22, 2025
Ontario Connecting 500,000 More People to a Family Doctor and Primary Care Team
Next call for proposals open as part of plan to connect every person in the province to convenient primary care by 2029
Today, the Ontario government launched the next call for proposals to create and expand approximately 75 primary care teams that will connect 500,000 more people to a primary care clinician. This over $250 million investment is part of the government’s $2.1 billion Primary Care Action Plan and brings the province one step closer to connecting everyone in Ontario to convenient primary care by 2029.
“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.”
Ontario continues to lead the country with unprecedented investments and rapid action to strengthen the health-care system through its plan to add over 300 new primary care teams across the province, connecting two million more people to publicly funded primary care by 2029. In June, the government announced a $235 million investment, which funded over 130 new and expanded primary care teams to connect more than 300,000 to primary care, some of which have already begun accepting new patients.
Communities across Ontario are eligible to apply for funding for this next call for proposals. All Ontario Health Teams have been provided guidance on the appropriate number of proposals to submit based on the number of people not connected to primary care in their communities.
The new and expanded teams will prioritize attaching individuals in their communities to care, including those on the Health Care Connect waitlist. The Health Care Connect waitlist (as of January 1, 2025) has already decreased by more than 98,000 people or over 42 per cent. The government expects to announce the successful teams in spring 2026 and there will be additional opportunities to apply through subsequent rounds of funding.
“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.”
Through Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the Ontario government continues to take bold and decisive action to grow the province’s highly skilled health-care workforce and ensure people and their families have access to high-quality care, closer to home, for generations to come.
Quick Facts:
- Interprofessional primary care teams connect people to a range of health professionals that work together under one roof, including family physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, registered practical nurses, physician assistants, physiotherapists, social workers, dieticians, and pharmacists, helping patients to receive more connected and convenient care.
- Ontario’s Primary Care Action Team is drawing on best-in-class models of care to implement its action plan, supported by the government’s investment of more than $2.1 billion to connect approximately two million more people to primary care by 2029, which will achieve the government’s goal of connecting everyone in the province to primary care.
- In 2024, Ontario invested $110 million in primary care teams across the province, helping to connect almost 370,000 more people to primary care close to home.
- Ontario recently passed the Primary Care Act, which establishes primary care as the foundation of Ontario’s health-care system and sets out six clear objectives for Ontario’s publicly funded primary care system to ensure people know what they can expect when connecting to primary care.
- Since 2018, Ontario has added nearly 20,000 additional physicians to its health-care workforce, including an over 14 per cent increase in family doctors.
- Ontario is taking significant steps to strengthen its health-care workforce by making it easier for U.S.-licensed nurses and board-certified physicians to move to and practise in Ontario. So far this year, nearly 1,400 nurses and more than 260 doctors have already chosen Ontario.
Quotes:
"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. These investments give our over 200 primary care teams, already serving 3.6 million Ontarians, the chance to scale what works, fill longstanding gaps, and reach the people who've been waiting far too long. We’re ready to work with our partners, to put forward innovative, evidence-based proposals that reflect the real needs of communities across Ontario."
- Jess Rogers, CEO, Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario
"We are pleased to see the Ontario government’s investment to expand comprehensive team-based care and connect more Ontarians to primary care. 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. We look forward to working with the government on effective implementation, and to make sure all family physicians have the most appropriate resources and tools they need to continue to deliver excellent patient care."
- Dr. Jobin Varughese, President, Ontario College of Family Physicians
"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. We commend the government for continuing to expand team-based care – a model that delivers better health outcomes and greater equity. Nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and our interprofessional colleagues are eager to contribute their expertise to these new and expanded teams so that more people across Ontario receive the high-quality, timely and person-centred care they need and deserve. This investment moves us closer to a future where no one is left without primary care – a pillar of any high-functioning health system."
- Dr. Doris Grinspun , CEO, Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario
"The Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario (NPAO) welcomes the government’s next round of proposals to expand Interprofessional Primary Care Teams (IPCTs) as part of its bold plan to connect more Ontarians to high-quality, team-based care. Nurse Practitioners are a largely untapped resource, and by working to their full scope they are uniquely positioned to lead the next phase of accessible, timely, and comprehensive care. NPAO is encouraged by the continued recognition of Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics (NPLCs) as eligible models and urges all stakeholders to fully integrate and leverage NP leadership and clinical expertise within Ontario Health Teams and Primary Care Networks."
- Dr. NP Michelle Acorn, CEO, The Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario
"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."
- Caroline Lidstone-Jones, CEO, Indigenous Primary Health Care Council
"As the voice of Ontario’s community-governed primary health care organizations, we welcome this investment as an important step toward ensuring that everyone in our province has timely access to comprehensive, team-based care. We are grateful to the government for recognizing and positioning primary health care as the foundation of Ontario’s health system. 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."
- Sarah Hobbs, CEO, Alliance for Healthier Communities
"We remain highly focused on connecting Ontarians to comprehensive primary health care, especially in the highest needs communities. Since 2024, our efforts have done just that for more than 370,000 people. Ontario Health looks forward to continuing to work with our partners to ensure this investment delivers real impact for people around the province."
- Matthew Anderson, President and CEO, Ontario Health
Additional Resources:
Media Contacts:
Ema Popovic
Minister Jones’ Office
ema.popovic@ontario.ca
Media Relations
Communications Branch
media.moh@ontario.ca
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