Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) will receive provincial funding for two primary care teaching clinics, as part of a $213 million investment announced by the Government of Ontario to expand and strengthen access to family health care across the province.
The announcement was made on May 7 at TMU's School of Medicine in Brampton, Ont.
TMU and government representatives at TMU's School of Medicine in Brampton, Ont., for the Ontario government's announcement of the Primary Care Act, 2025. From left to right: Teresa Chan, dean and vice-president, medical affairs; Sharanjeet Kaur, chief administrative officer, School of Medicine; Roberta Iannacito-Provenzano, provost and vice-president, academic; Hon. Nolan Quinn, minister of colleges, universities, research excellence and security; Mohamed Lachemi, president and vice-chancellor, Hon. Sylvia Jones, deputy premier and minister of health; Krishan Mehta, vice-president, university advancement and alumni relations; Hon. Charmaine Williams - associate minister of women's social and economic opportunity of Ontario, Dr. Jane Philpott - chair, Ontario primary care action team; Hon. Peter Bethlenfalvy, minister of finance.
TMU's clinics are among approximately 80 new and expanded interprofessional primary care teams supported through this initiative (Ontario currently has 39 teaching clinics across the province).
These teams are designed to connect more people to family doctors and nurse practitioners, while also training the next generation of healthcare professionals.
TMU will focus on building interprofessional team-based clinics where healthcare workers work collaboratively with physicians. This approach is core to the new medical school's innovative curriculum, which will equip students with the skills to develop interprofessional health networks that team-based care relies on.
"We are proud to be part of a transformative moment for health care in Ontario - one that recognizes the essential role of primary care and the power of education in driving long-term, sustainable change," said TMU President and Vice-Chancellor, Mohamed Lachemi.
"On behalf of Toronto Metropolitan University, I want to sincerely thank Premier Ford and his government for their vision and leadership," Lachemi said.
TMU's School of Medicine will train physicians who will serve local communities through collaborative health care and by the establishment of two integrated health-care centres. The school's focus on interprofessional care skill building is a differentiator.
Improving primary care for Ontarians
The government investment is part of the Primary Care Act, 2025. This legislation, if passed, will make Ontario the first Canadian jurisdiction to establish a framework for its publicly funded primary care system to set health-care expectations regardless of locality.
This legislation is part of the government's Primary Care Action Plan, aimed at connecting two million more people to publicly funded primary care in the next four years, expanding access to family doctors or primary care teams.
As part of the upcoming 2025 Ontario Budget, the government will invest up to $300 million overall to build up to 17 new or expanded community-based primary care teaching clinics in areas with high rates of un-attachment to primary care. This brings the total investment in the province's Primary Care Action Plan to $2.1 billion.
In partnership with seven Ontario universities including TMU the clinics will train family doctors and other health professionals, such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants, while providing direct care to connect about 300,000 more people to primary care. Locations will be announced this summer.
TMU's School of Medicine will welcome its first cohort of post-graduate medical learners in July and its inaugural MD students this September.
