Ontario Taking Next Steps to Protect Primary Care

Province introducing legislation, investing $300 million to expand teaching clinics and connect 300,000 more people to a family doctor and primary care team

May 07, 2025

Health

TORONTO — Today, the Ontario government is introducing the Primary Care Act, 2025. This legislation, if passed, will make Ontario the first Canadian jurisdiction to establish a framework for its publicly funded primary care system so that people in Ontario know what they can expect when accessing primary care services, no matter where they live. This legislation is part of the government’s Primary Care Action Plan, which will connect two million more people to publicly funded primary care in the next four years, achieving the government’s goal of connecting everyone in Ontario to a family doctor or primary care team.

“This first-of-its kind, nation-leading legislation marks a major step forward in our plan to protect our health care system and connect everyone in Ontario to a family doctor and primary care team,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Primary care is the foundation of our health care system, and we are establishing our government’s vision for a primary care system that improves access to care and empowers people with the knowledge and tools to increase their well-being.”

As part of the upcoming 2025 Ontario Budget, the government is also investing up to $300 million to build up to 17 new and expanded community-based primary care teaching clinics in communities with high rates of unattachment to primary care. This brings the government’s total investment in Ontario’s Primary Care Action Plan to $2.1 billion. In partnership with McMaster University, NOSM University, Queens University, Toronto Metropolitan University, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, and Western University, the clinics will train family doctors and other health care professionals such as nurse practitioners, physician assistants and registered nurses. The clinics combine direct patient care with hands-on learning for primary care learners, allowing approximately 300,000 additional Ontarians to be connected to primary care. Further details about where the clinics will be located will be announced this summer.

“Thanks to our efforts to grow Ontario’s economy while investing in people’s health, we’re able to continue making historic advancements to make our primary care system more accessible, innovative and connected for all,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance. “As a critical part of our Primary Care Action Plan, this legislation would bring us one step closer to our commitment to connect more people to publicly funded primary care and reinforce Ontario’s place as national health care leaders.”

The Primary Care Act, 2025 sets out six clear objectives for Ontario’s publicly funded primary care system which will ensure people know what they can expect when connecting to primary care:

Province-wide: Every person across the province should have the opportunity to have ongoing access to a primary care clinician or team.
Connected: Every person should have the opportunity to receive primary care that is coordinated with existing health and social services.
Convenient: Every person should have access to timely primary care.
Inclusive: Every person should have the opportunity to receive primary care that is free from barriers and free from discrimination.
Empowered: Every person should have the opportunity to access their personal health information through a digitally integrated system that connects patients and clinicians in the circle of care.
Responsive: The primary care system should respond to the needs of the communities it serves and everyone should have access to information about how the system is performing and adapting.

“This groundbreaking legislation and substantial investment in primary care teaching clinics marks a significant milestone for Ontario’s primary care system,” said Dr. Jane Philpott, Chair of Ontario’s Primary Care Action Team. “By expanding capacity to train family medicine learners, along with proposing to establish clear objectives in legislation, we are working toward ensuring that primary care will be accessible for all.”

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

The legislation, if passed, would set out objectives for Ontario’s publicly funded primary care system that are in alignment with existing health care legislation and accountability structures including service agreements.
The province continues to engage primary care partners to inform the broader implementation of the Primary Care Action Plan.
As part of the province’s latest investment, up to $60 million in funding this year will support the early capital planning for new and expanded primary care teaching clinics, as well as supporting the operation of Toronto Metropolitan University’s two primary care teaching clinics at its new medical school in Brampton. Starting in July 2025, Toronto Metropolitan University will add the first of its 95 undergraduate education seats and its 117 postgraduate seats, with 70 in family medicine.
Ontario currently has 39 teaching clinics across the province where medical residents train to become family doctors. Family medicine residents typically spend up to two years training at a teaching clinic before graduation.
The government is investing in the largest medical school education expansion in more than a decade by adding 340 seats for family medicine by 2028-29, representing a 67 per cent increase in family medicine learners.
The government announced an investment of $213 million to create and expand up to 80 additional primary care teams across the province to attach 300,000 more people to primary care this year.
Since 2018, the province has added nearly 100,000 new nurses and over 15,000 new physicians to the health care system.

Quotes

“Our government is taking major strides to continue strengthening and protecting the province’s health care workforce today, and for decades to come. This critical investment in our world-renowned medical schools will not only give students hands-on learning opportunities through the primary care clinics, but it will also connect communities across the province with the excellent health care they need to live long and happy lives.”

– Nolan Quinn
Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security

“As the Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity, I wholeheartedly support the introduction of the Primary Care Act, 2025 as a pivotal advancement in building a more inclusive and accessible health care system. By expanding primary care across Ontario, we are supporting women and families with the care they need to thrive. This investment strengthens our communities and empowers future generations. Equitable access to primary care is essential to advancing both economic and social opportunity, particularly for women and caregivers. This legislation ensures that all Ontarians, regardless of background or postal code, can rely on consistent, high-quality care. It represents a meaningful step toward a healthier, more prosperous Ontario.”

– Charmaine Williams
MPP for Brampton Centre

“This landmark investment and legislation in primary care and medical education is a game-changer for Brampton. With Toronto Metropolitan University’s new medical school and teaching clinics, our government is not only expanding access to care but also training the next generation of family doctors right here in our community.”

– Prabmeet Sarkaria
MPP for Brampton South

“By introducing the Primary Care Act, 2025, our government is laying the foundation for a stronger, more sustainable health care system that will serve Ontarians well into the future. This legislation ensures they can count on consistent, high-quality primary care, no matter their postal code. It is a crucial step in strengthening our healthcare system today and protecting it for generations to come.”

– Graham McGregor
MPP for Brampton North

“The introduction of the Primary Care Act, 2025, is a major step forward in strengthening our health care system and connecting more Ontarians to the care they deserve. With new teaching clinics, including those coming to Brampton, our government is training the next generation of health care professionals and delivering better care closer to home.”

– Amarjot Sandhu
MPP for Brampton West

“This $300 million investment in expanding primary care teaching clinics is a critical step in strengthening our health care system. By training more family doctors right here in Ontario, we’re not only addressing the immediate need for more primary care providers, but also laying the foundation for a healthier future for our communities. I’m proud to support a plan that ensures Ontarians will have better, more timely access to the care they need, closer to home.”

– Hardeep Grewal
MPP for Brampton East

“Ontario’s doctors are encouraged by this announcement and look forward to working with government to ensure that every Ontarian has access to a family doctor. We will do everything we can to accelerate this goal by collaborating with Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones, and the lead of the Primary Care Action Team, Dr. Jane Philpott. It’s a long road ahead but this is a positive step forward to protecting Ontario’s valued health care system.”

– Kimberly Moran
CEO, Ontario Medical Association (OMA)

“This is an exciting investment that will truly transform the way that Ontarians access primary health care. With our first class of medical learners starting later this year, this funding will directly support our Integrated Health Centres, which will recruit, train, and retain family medicine physicians, while also improving access to interprofessional primary care in communities that need it most.”

– Mohamed Lachemi
President and Vice Chancellor, Toronto Metropolitan University

“Ontario’s Deans of Medicine welcome this crucial investment of much needed funding to build and expand Primary Care Teaching Clinics across Ontario. These clinics will prepare our future generations of family physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses and other health care professionals while providing vital primary care to Ontario’s unattached patients. The Deans of Medicine appreciate the dedication and vision of the government to attach all Ontarians to a primary care provider.”

– Dr. Paul O’Byrne, Co-chair and Dr. John Yoo, Co-chair
Council of Ontario Faculties of Medicine

“Queen’s University School of Medicine welcomes this transformative investment in building Primary Care Teaching Clinics and supporting interprofessional team-based primary care delivery and teaching in our region that will provide our local communities with access to vital primary care for generations.”

– Dr. Stephen Vanner
Interim Dean, Queen’s Health Sciences, interim director of the School of Medicine, and interim CEO of the Southeastern Ontario Academic Medical Organization

“The University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Medicine welcomes this strong action to grow the health care workforce and expand access to high-quality care in Ontario. Minister Sylvia Jones’ plan to invest in primary care teaching clinics will help ensure family physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses and other health care professionals are trained to provide primary care, including here in Eastern Ontario and in Francophone communities.”

– Dr. Melissa Forgie
Interim Dean and Professor Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa

“NOSM University is thrilled to be able to develop dedicated Primary Care Teaching Clinics for the first time. This will provide critical support for our expansion of family medicine training to deliver the family doctors needed across Northern Ontario.”

– Dr. Michael Green
President, Vice-Chancellor, Dean, and CEO Northern Ontario School of Medicine University

“This investment in team-based training is an excellent step forward in strengthening Ontario’s health care system. Through interdisciplinary Primary Care Teaching Clinics, the University of Toronto’s network of training sites will help to build a pipeline to attract new doctors to underserved regions while at the same time meeting the needs of community members who have no primary health care provider. This is the educational model of the future.”

– Dr. Lisa Robinson
Dean, Temerty Faculty of Medicine University of Toronto

“This is a bold and consequential investment—one that will leave a lasting imprint on health care for all Ontarians. We thank Dr. Jane Philpott for championing a model that brings education and care together in service of our communities and Premier Ford, Minister Jones and Minister Bethlenfalvy for their unwavering leadership and support.”

– Dr. John Yoo
Dean, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University

Ontario Taking Next Steps to Protect Primary Care

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