Ontario Government Invests $22 Million to Connect 73,000 Eastern Ontarians to Primary Care Teams

OTTAWA — The Ontario government is making a significant investment to enhance primary healthcare access in Eastern Ontario. With nearly $22 million allocated, over 73,000 residents will benefit from new and expanded primary care teams. This funding is part of Ontario’s broader $110 million initiative to connect up to 328,000 people across the province to primary care providers.

“Our government is making record investments to ensure everyone who wants to have a primary care provider can connect to one,” stated Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “While there is more work to do, giving tens of thousands of more people in the region the opportunity to connect to primary care brings us that much closer to this goal.”

Ontario leads the country with 90 percent of its population already connected to a regular healthcare provider. The new funding will further support nine interprofessional primary care initiatives, aimed at closing the gap for those not yet connected in Eastern Ontario. These initiatives include:

• Ottawa: A new Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic focused on comprehensive care for those with mental health and addiction challenges.
• Renfrew County: A new Family Health Team specializing in mental health, addictions support, and chronic disease management for seniors. John Yakabuski, MPP for Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke, emphasized, “Giving more patients access to a family doctor will go a long way in easing strain and overcrowding in our emergency departments, and to those who staff them. I am most grateful to all those involved with the Ancient Rivers Family Health Team, and for their leadership in this initiative.”
• Lanark County: A new Family Health Team dedicated to supporting vulnerable populations, particularly seniors without a primary care provider. John Jordan, MPP for Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston, stated, “The funding is for the community and will provide access to Primary Health Care Services including Mental Health & Addictions, increased support services for our senior population, occupational therapy, and connecting thousands of people to a primary care provider.”
• Brockville: An expanded Family Health Team offering primary care services seven days a week. Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, said, “I look forward to working with the Upper Canada Family Health Team and community partners to serve this significant amount of unattached patients.”
• Cornwall: Enhanced services with funding to help three interprofessional teams close gaps in regional care. Nolan Quinn, MPP for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry, commented, “The funding for expansion services in Cornwall will help three interprofessional teams to work together to provide necessary healthcare. This brings us one step closer to making sure no one in our community is left behind in our healthcare system.”
• Kingston: A Community Health Centre providing care to newborns, pre- and post-natal care, and follow-up care for discharged hospital patients, including cancer patients.
• Peterborough: A new Community Health Centre to address barriers to care, particularly for Indigenous communities. Dave Smith, MPP for Peterborough-Kawartha, highlighted, “The new Community Health Center will be designed to help some of Peterborough’s most marginalized and vulnerable population, which will help keep people out of hospitals, and will attract more health care providers to the area.”
• Campbellford: Expanded services in the existing Family Health Team, including additional nurse practitioners and a new health promoter. David Piccini, MPP for Northumberland – Peterborough South, noted, “The Ontario Government realizes that Family Health Teams play a critical role in transforming the way communities access health care and in delivering better patient care.”
• Port Perry: Expanded support for the existing Family Health Team to connect more patients to primary care services. Todd McCarthy, MPP for Durham, stated, “These investments, made under the leadership of Premier Ford and Minister Jones, will profoundly benefit the people of Durham by connecting more families to the new and expanded interprofessional primary care team, keeping our community healthy for years to come.”

Interprofessional primary care teams integrate a range of health professionals, including doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, physiotherapists, social workers, and dietitians, to provide comprehensive care under one roof. This model ensures timely access to primary care, helping people stay healthier with faster diagnoses and treatment, while also reducing pressure on emergency departments and walk-in clinics.

The $90 million record investment will introduce over 400 new primary care providers and 78 new and expanded interprofessional primary care teams across Ontario. Combined with efforts to expand medical school spots and facilitate internationally-trained doctors’ entry into the workforce, the Ministry of Health projects that these initiatives will connect up to 98 percent of Ontarians to primary care within the next few years.