Monday, February 09, 2026
Ontario Investing an Additional $30 Million to Expand Primary Care Workforce
Investment will add nearly 1,800 health-care workers to primary care teams as part of Ontario’s $2.1 billion Primary Care Action Plan
The Ontario government is continuing to deliver on its commitment to protect Ontario’s health-care system by investing $30 million to expand the province’s primary care health-care workforce. This new funding will upskill over 1,400 registered nurses for primary care, create 170 primary care nurse practitioner education seats and add up to 150 physician assistant education seats as part of the government’s $2.1 billion Primary Care Action Plan to connect everyone in Ontario to primary care by 2029.
“Our government is continuing to take bold action to further protect Ontario’s world-class health-care workforce now and for years to come,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “By increasing the number of nurse practitioners and physician assistants, while upskilling registered nurses, we are taking one more step towards our goal of ensuring everyone can connect to primary care.”
To support the recruitment and retention of nurses in primary care, Ontario is investing over $4.5 million for a new, innovative program that will help over 1,400 registered nurses gain skills and experience in primary care, including:
- chronic disease management
- cancer screening
- maternal and child care
- immunizations
Launching this year, the program will be delivered in partnership with Conestoga College, Lakehead University, Trent University and Western University to equip registered nurses with the skills they need to immediately work in a primary care setting. As one of the first programs of its kind, Ontario is leading the way in health-care training and freeing up more time for family doctors and nurse practitioners to focus on patients with more complex needs.
“Today’s investment builds on our government’s critical work to protect Ontario’s health-care workforce today, and into the future,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “This new upskilling program and seat expansions will ensure that Ontario continues to have highly skilled workers to connect more people across the province to compassionate health care, close to home.”
Ontario is also investing $8.5 million to add up to 170 new primary care nurse practitioner education seats starting this year. Nursing schools implementing these new seats include Lakehead University, Laurentian University, McMaster University, the University of Ottawa, Queen’s University, Toronto Metropolitan University, the University of Toronto, the University of Windsor, Western University and York University. This expansion will create more nurse practitioners in Ontario working in primary care, enabling faster and easier access for families across the province.
“Strengthening Ontario’s primary care system depends on a highly skilled health workforce,” said Dr. Jane Philpott, Chair, Primary Care Action Team. “These new education and upskilling initiatives will help ensure that nurses, nurse practitioners and physician assistants are equipped to provide the comprehensive, team-based care Ontarians rely on, close to home.”
In addition, starting in 2026-27, the government is investing a further $16 million to add up to 150 new physician assistant education seats at Ontario universities. Physician assistants help reduce wait times and improve patient access to primary care services across Ontario. Under the supervision of a physician, physician assistants may work with other members of health-care teams to provide health-care services.
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 primary care upskilling program for registered nurses is a 12-week program that provides additional education and training to support working in primary care settings. Upon completion, registered nurses will receive a certificate from the program.
- Since the launch of the government’s $2.1 billion Primary Care Action Plan, Ontario has already attached over 275,000 new patients to a primary care provider, putting the province on track to meet or exceed its target of connecting 300,000 new people to care in 2025-26 and every Ontarian to a primary care provider by 2029.
- The government is investing in the largest medical school education expansion in more than a decade by adding 340 undergraduate seats and 551 postgraduate positions by 2028-29, representing a 67 per cent increase in family medicine graduates.
- Nurse practitioners have an expanded scope of practice and can diagnose, order and interpret diagnostic tests, prescribe medications and perform specific procedures, making them essential in primary care environments.
- Since 2018, Ontario has added over 100,000 new nurses and nearly 20,000 additional physicians to its health-care workforce, including an over 14 per cent increase in family doctors.
- Ontario is taking significant steps to strengthen its health-care workforce by making it easier for U.S.-licensed nurses and board-certified physicians to move to and practise in Ontario. In 2025, over 1,700 nurses and more than 450 doctors from the US have already chosen Ontario.
- In August 2025, the Ontario government invested $56.8 million to train 2,200 more nurses for communities across the province.
Quotes:
"This $30 million investment is about strengthening primary care where it matters most, in our communities and close to home. As the MPP for Brampton Centre, I know how critical it is that families in our city have timely access to primary care, supported by strong, collaborative health teams. By expanding and upskilling our nursing workforce and growing the next generation of nurse practitioners and physician assistants, Ontario is taking decisive action to build a resilient health-care system that delivers for Brampton and communities across the province."
- Charmaine Williams , MPP for Brampton Centre
"This is welcome news and we are grateful to the government of Ontario for continuing to invest in health care in our province. The increase in seats for primary care nurse practitioners to TMU’s program means we’ll be able to educate even more students who will provide outstanding and much needed health care to Ontarians."
- Mohamed Lachemi, President and Vice-Chancellor, Toronto Metropolitan University
"The addition of 170 nurse practitioner education seats, alongside the upskilling of 1,400 registered nurses for primary care practice, represents a significant investment in Ontario’s health-care workforce. Strengthening nursing capacity in primary care will improve access and continuity of care for Ontarians. Primary care is a hallmark of any advanced health system."
- Dr. Doris Grinspun, CEO, Registered Nurses Association of Ontario
"The launch of this post-secondary program and the expansion of Nurse Practitioner (NP) education seats is a critical measure in strengthening our health-care workforce and closing the gaps in access to care. The Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario (NPAO) is encouraged to see this ongoing commitment to educate and train the next generation of health-care leaders and looks forward to continuing to work with the provincial government to expand support for the recruitment, education, and retention of NPs across the province."
- Dr. Michelle Acorn, CEO, Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario
"The Canadian Association of Physician Assistants is thrilled with the Ontario government’s continued investment in the Physician Assistant profession. This expansion comes at a critical time for Ontario’s health-care system. Adding 150 new Physician Assistant training seats will help grow the pool of highly qualified health-care providers needed to support patients and care teams across the province. Physician Assistants are essential members of health-care teams, improving efficiency and increasing access to timely, high-quality care. In primary care, more PAs will help connect patients with providers more quickly. The impact of investing in the PA profession will be felt across the system. PAs are part of the solution—and Ontario deserves PAs."
- Ryan Bennett, President, Canadian Association of Physician Assistants
"This investment will support Ontario’s universities in increasing the number of registered nurses educated to specialize in primary care, as well as in expanding nurse practitioner and physician assistant programs in order to improve access to high-quality care across Ontario. Ontario’s universities are committed to educating the highly skilled nurse practitioners, registered nurses, and physician assistants that are integral to improving access to high-quality care across Ontario."
- Steve Orsini, President and CEO, Council of Ontario Universities
"Ontario’s colleges are leaders in training and upskilling nurses. This investment strengthens primary care training and underscores the critical role of applied, practice-focused education in meeting the needs of communities across Ontario."
- Maureen Adamson, President and CEO, Colleges Ontario
Additional Resources:
Media Contacts:
Ema Popovic
Minister Jones’ Office
ema.popovic@ontario.ca
Media Relations
Communications Branch
media.moh@ontario.ca
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