Ontario Expands Primary Care Teams to Attach 600,000 More Patients by 2029
Ontario will launch a new call for proposals to create or expand 78 primary care teams, aiming to connect 600,000 more residents to primary care as part of its goal to attach all Ontarians to primary care by 2029. Health Minister Sylvia Jones announced 437,000 people have already been connected since the plan launched.
On August 18, 2026, Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones announced that the province will soon call for proposals to create or expand 78 primary care teams across Ontario. The initiative is part of a broader commitment to ensure every Ontario resident has access to a primary care provider by 2029.
Key Details
- Progress to date: 437,000 people have been successfully connected to primary care since the program launched in early 2025
- Next target: The new round aims to attach another 600,000 people to care teams
- Overall goal: Connect 2 million Ontarians to primary care (though the Ontario Medical Association estimates 2.5 million currently lack a family doctor)
Primary care teams typically include family doctors, nurse practitioners, nurses, and administrative staff working together to provide coordinated care. The expansion addresses a persistent shortage: with approximately 2.5 million Ontarians without a regular family doctor, newcomers and expats often face particular difficulty finding care upon arrival.
What This Means for You
If you're relocating to Ontario, the expansion of primary care teams should gradually improve your chances of securing a family doctor faster than the current multi-year waits in some regions. In the meantime, use Ontario's Health Care Connect registry (ontario.ca/healthcare-connect) to join a waitlist in your area. Walk-in clinics and telehealth services can bridge the gap while you wait for roster attachment.
Sources
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