Ontario Health Minister Reports Progress in Primary Care Access

Ontario’s Health Minister, Sylvia Jones, has announced significant progress in connecting residents with primary care through the province’s ambitious plan. As of September 30, 2025, Ontario has successfully linked an additional 275,000 individuals to primary care services, moving closer to its target of 300,000 for the first year of the initiative. This effort is part of the Primary Care Action Plan, which was unveiled in December 2024 with a budget of $2.1 billion. The overarching aim is to ensure that by 2028-29, every Ontarian who wishes to receive primary care can do so.

Jones expressed her pride in the progress made thus far, stating, “As the plan continues to hit its targets and deliver faster access to high-quality care, I am incredibly proud of the progress we have made in the first year of our Primary Care Action Plan.”

In overseeing this initiative, former federal health minister Jane Philpott has highlighted that the government has addressed approximately 75 percent of the existing backlog on the Health Care Connect (HCC) waitlist, which faced a significant challenge at the beginning of 2025. Despite this progress, the list has seen an influx of approximately 91,000 new entries since January 1, 2025.

Under Philpott’s leadership, the team has undertaken extensive efforts to streamline the waitlist process. This work includes validating all names on the list and establishing clear targets to guide the intake of new patients by health teams. Currently, the government estimates that around 1.98 million Ontarians remain to be connected with primary care services, a figure derived from revised methodologies by INSPIRE-PHC, a network focused on primary care research.

Although the Ontario Medical Association has challenged the government’s previous estimates, officials assert that their current figures are based on updated information, thereby providing a clearer view of the healthcare landscape. Philpott has indicated that the government is prepared to adapt its plans to accommodate potential increases in patient demand, particularly in response to population growth.

To meet its ambitious goals, Ontario plans to attach more than 500,000 additional individuals to primary care services annually between 2026-27 and 2028-29. This strategy is crucial for addressing the needs of a growing population and ensuring that healthcare resources are allocated effectively.

Despite the optimistic outlook from the province, concerns have been raised regarding the overall strategy for connecting residents with primary care. The recent audit conducted by Ontario’s Auditor General, Shelley Spence, revealed that the province lacks a consistent plan for improving access to primary care. Spence’s report noted that over half of those waiting for services through HCC had been on the list for more than a year. Additionally, the report highlighted significant variations in wait times across the system.

Spence pointed out that the communications plan for HCC had not been updated since 2015, which may have contributed to the reduced number of individuals seeking assistance. In response to the auditor’s findings, Jones’ office stated that the report did not adequately consider the investments made through the government’s Primary Care Action Team (PCAT).

As Ontario continues to work towards its primary care goals, it remains to be seen how the province will balance the immediate needs of its residents with the long-term vision outlined in the Primary Care Action Plan. The commitment to increasing access to healthcare services is evident, but addressing the challenges highlighted by the Auditor General will be critical to the plan’s success.