The Ontario government says it will invest an additional 30 million dollars to expand the province’s primary care workforce, a move aimed at improving access to health services and connecting more residents with providers.
The funding is expected to support nearly 1,800 health care workers through a mix of education expansion and skills development. The province says the plan includes upskilling more than 1,400 registered nurses so they can work in primary care settings, creating up to 170 new nurse practitioner education seats and adding as many as 150 physician assistant training positions.
Several universities across Ontario are expected to participate in the expansion, with new seats beginning this year. A separate training program for registered nurses will provide additional preparation in areas such as chronic disease management, cancer screening, maternal and child care and immunizations.
The investment is part of Ontario’s broader Primary Care Action Plan, a multi year effort valued at 2.1 billion dollars. The province says the strategy is designed to ensure every resident is connected to primary care by 2029.
According to government figures, more than 275,000 people have been attached to a provider since the plan began. Officials say expanding team based care and increasing the supply of trained professionals will help reduce wait times and improve access.
Further funding for physician assistant seats is scheduled to begin in the 2026 to 2027 academic year.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)