Province making changes to increase the number of family doctors in Ontario

The province is taking another step toward making sure all Ontarians have a family doctor.

They say the “Learn and Stay Grant” will include family medicine and also require medical schools in the province to prioritize seats for Ontario residents.

New changes will require medical schools to prioritize 95 per cent of undergraduate medical school seats for Ontario residents

The province believe that doctors who study in Ontario will stay and treat residents rather then leaving.

Premier Doug Ford was at Lakeridge Health in Oshawa to help make the announcement Friday.

“Today’s announcement is the latest step in our plan to connect every person in Ontario, no matter where they live, to primary care,” said Ford. “We’re training more family doctors than ever before, helping them live, learn and stay in Ontario, and we’re helping Ontario students support and remain in our province by prioritizing them for medical school seats in Ontario schools.”

Beginning in 2026, the province is investing an estimated $88-million over three years to expand the grants for 1,360 eligible undergraduate students that commit to become family doctors will a full roster of patients after they graduate. The investment includes $17.7-million for the 2026-2027 academic year.

A release from the Ontario government estimates the move will help connect another 1.36-million people to primary care “based on average attachment rates for family doctors.” The funding covers all tuition and other education-related costs, like books, supplies and equipment. In exchange, the students agree to a term of service as a physician in any community throughout Ontario.

“Since it was first introduced in 2023, the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant has helped nearly 7,500 students begin training in priority nursing, paramedicine and medical lab technology programs,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges and Universities. “Now, we’re taking the grant to the next level – supporting Ontario’s future family doctors so they can provide world-class health care to the people of Ontario.”

The government will also be introducing legislation and regulatory changes that, if passed, will require all medical schools in Ontario to allocate at least 95 per cent of all undergraduate medical school seats to people who live in Ontario. The rule change would take effect fall 2026. The other five per cent of spots will be reserved for students from the rest of Canada. The province says they are also creating more opportunities for Ontarians who started their medical education abroad to be able to complete their postgraduate training in Ontario. It’s all part of a larger effort to make sure provincial medical schools are training and graduating doctors, including family doctors, who are significantly more likely to practice in Ontario.

The government is also planning on reviewing the visa trainee program, which trains international students who are sponsored by foreign governments, in order to further protect training capacity for Ontario students.

“Our government is continuing to take bold and innovative action ensure Ontario has a strong physician workforce now and for years to come,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “By making it easier for residents to stay in Ontario to go to medical school, our government is taking the next step to connect more people to world class health care right in their own communities.”