The Ontario government has unveiled a $1.4 billion plan to bolster primary health care across the province, just days before Premier Doug Ford is expected to call an early election.
Announced by Health Minister Sylvia Jones, the plan aims to connect two million more Ontarians with primary care by 2029, expanding access to family doctors and primary care teams. The initiative also includes an additional $400 million already committed, bringing the total investment to $1.8 billion.
Jones, speaking alongside former federal health minister Jane Philpott, now head of the province’s Primary Care Action Team, emphasized the urgency of addressing long-standing gaps in health care access.
- The plan seeks to meet the government’s goal of connecting every Ontarian to a family doctor or primary care team.
- However, the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) noted that 2.5 million Ontarians are currently without a family doctor, a number projected to grow to 4.4 million within a year.
“We have been fortunate to meet with Dr. Philpott already and we fully support her work,” said Kimberly Moran, CEO of the OMA. “At the same time, more needs to be done to retain and attract family physicians.”
The announcement, made on the government’s last full day before parliament is dissolved, has drawn criticism from opposition leaders who view it as a campaign strategy.
Ontario Liberal Party Leader Bonnie Crombie questioned the timing, stating, “This should have been done in 2018 when Doug Ford first took office.”
NDP Leader Marit Stiles echoed similar concerns during a stop in Brampton, calling the announcement “a last-minute attempt to win votes.”
“Doug Ford and the Conservatives have made the problem worse, not better,” Stiles said. “Now they’re rushing out promises that they’ll never deliver on.”
Premier Ford is expected to call a snap election on Wednesday, 1.5 years before the scheduled date in June 2026, citing the need for a renewed mandate to address challenges including trade tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump.
In the lead-up to the election, Ford’s cabinet ministers have made a flurry of announcements, including:
- $350 million to refurbish GO Transit rail cars in North Bay.
- $30 million to boost the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation for economic development.
- A $10 million loan to a paper company in Kapuskasing to protect 2,500 jobs.
Health care is set to be a key issue in the election, with opposition parties criticizing the Ford government’s track record.
For Ontarians, the announcement raises questions about the feasibility of Ford’s health care plan and whether it can address the province’s critical physician shortage. As the election campaign begins, the battle over health care promises is expected to take center stage.