Background
On June 23, the Ontario government announced a $235 million investment to support primary care teams. This announcement comes as part of Ontario’s historic $2.1 billion investment in health care through the Primary Care Action Plan. The plan sets out several objectives to expand and improve access to care throughout the province, focused around an overarching goal of connecting every person in Ontario with a primary care physician by 2029.
The government also recently passed the Primary Care Act; a complementary piece of legislation that cements primary care as the foundation of Ontario’s health care system. The Act outlines six patient-centric objectives and makes Ontario the first province to establish a framework for a publicly funded primary care system.
What is a Primary Care Team?
Primary care teams are a group of health professionals offering support for the different levels of care needed, all within the same team. They are typically made up of a family physician or nurse practitioner, and are supported by other skilled health professionals such as nurses, pharmacists, social workers, and other community partners. The team approach allows patients to gain access to the more routine health needs within one point of contact, while also alleviating strain imposed on other parts of the health system like emergency departments.
What’s Changing?
The government has announced that this $235 million investment will be used to support more than 130 new and expanded primary care teams across the province. These primary care teams were selected as part of a call for proposals, where communities with the highest numbers of residents without access to primary care were prioritized to receive support. As a result, this investment is expected to connect 300,000 people to primary care this year.
Additionally, as part of this investment, the province is providing $142 million in operational funding over three years to the selected primary care teams. More specifically, the funds will be used to support efforts to recruit and retain health workers like nurses, physician assistants, and pharmacists.
A second call for proposals is expected to be announced in September 2025. Eligible teams who were unsuccessful in the first round will be encouraged to resubmit in the second.
What’s the Government Saying?
“We are protecting Ontario’s health-care system and people’s access to convenient care by funding new and expanded primary care teams across the province, helping connect everyone in Ontario to a primary care provider.”
- Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health
“Together we are building a primary care system that is comprehensive, convenient and connected for every single person in Ontario.”
- Dr. Jane Philpott, Chair of Ontario’s Primary Care Action Team
What are Stakeholders Saying?
“As Ontario Health works to operationalize the government’s commitment, we work closely with our dedicated health system partners across regions in the primary care sector, identifying patient needs and ensuring that the necessary care delivery networks are in place.”
-Matthew Anderson, President and CEO of Ontario Health
“The OMA supports the efforts of Heath Minister Sylvia Jones and Dr. Jane Philpott’s primary action team to help attach more patients to family doctors. We’re encouraged that communities with the highest rates of unattached patients are getting some much needed relief.”
-Dr. Zainab Abdurrahman, President of the Ontario Medical Association
Conclusion
This renewed investment in support of the Primary Care Action Plan underscores the Progressive Conservative government’s commitment to changing how Ontarians receive care, and creating a public health system that puts patients first. The Ford government continues to build on their legacy of modernizing health services with investments like this one, and key additions like Dr. Jane Philpott to lead these efforts. With strategic investments, community-driven care models, and a focus on workforce development, the province is continuing to build on this foundation for a healthier, more equitable future.