Ontario is taking significant steps to address healthcare access across the province, unveiling a sweeping $3.4 billion investment through its Primary Care Action Plan. This major initiative aims to ensure that every Ontario resident is connected to a primary care provider by 2029, including family doctors and interprofessional teams operating in communities from Toronto to Brantford.

Ambitious Goals for Comprehensive Coverage

The province currently leads Canada with nearly 90% of Ontarians linked to a primary care provider, but officials are targeting the approximately two million residents who remain unattached. Under the Primary Care Action Plan, the government is determined to bridge this gap by increasing funding to primary care teams across Ontario’s diverse regions.

Local Investment: Brantford’s Grand River Community Health Centre

Nearly 200 teams provincewide are benefiting from new funding. Notably, the Grand River Community Health Centre in Brantford has received $812,600, underscoring the government’s commitment to strengthen care at the community level. Since August 2025, the Brantford centre has welcomed over 3,200 new patients—surpassing its initial projections and highlighting both demand for and the impact of robust, accessible primary care teams.

Streamlining Connections Through Health Care Connect

To facilitate efficient patient-provider connections, Ontario is optimizing its Health Care Connect platform. This program offers residents a straightforward way to find a family doctor or nurse practitioner tailored to their needs. With more residents utilizing Health Care Connect, patient access to local, quality care is expected to steadily improve, particularly in underserved areas of Ontario.

Modernizing Patient Records and Reducing Administrative Burden

As part of the province-wide overhaul, Ontario is rolling out an integrated Primary Care Medical Record system. This innovation aims to connect patient records securely across health networks, reducing administrative hurdles for providers. By streamlining data management, physicians and primary care teams can spend more time focusing on patient care rather than paperwork, reinforcing the Action Plan’s commitment to high-quality service delivery.

Strengthening Ontario’s Healthcare Workforce

Expanding primary care capacity also requires a robust healthcare workforce. Since 2018, Ontario has welcomed over 20,000 additional physicians, helping to fortify family doctor availability provincewide. Moreover, the government has made it easier for US-licensed healthcare professionals to practice in Ontario, further supporting health teams and improving patient care. Interprofessional teams, including family physicians, nurses, and specialists, are playing a central role in broadening comprehensive care in local communities.

Building a Future of Improved Healthcare Access

With dedicated funding to community health centres and investments in patient records technology, Ontario’s Primary Care Action Plan is set to benefit families in every region—from urban centres to rural communities. The goal is to provide equitable, timely healthcare access close to home, ensuring that every resident can rely on a sustainable primary care system for years to come.