To help close the remaining 10 per cent gap of people who do not have access to a regular health-care provider, the Ontario government is breaking down barriers for Ontario students to become family doctors by expanding the Learn and Stay grant to include family medicine. The province is also requiring medical schools to prioritize seats for Ontario residents, helping ensure more doctors who study in Ontario treat Ontario patients rather than leaving the province after their studies.
"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 Premier Doug 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."
Starting in 2026, the government is investing an estimated $88 million over three years to expand Learn and Stay grants for 1,360 eligible undergraduate students that commit to practice family medicine with a full roster of patients once they graduate. This includes $17.7 million for the 2026-2027 academic year. It is estimated the total investment will enable the connection of an additional 1.36 million people to primary care based on average attachment rates for family doctors. The funding will cover all tuition and other direct educational costs like books, supplies and equipment in exchange for a term of service as a physician in any community across 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."
Starting in fall 2026, new legislative and regulatory changes will, if passed, also require all Ontario medical schools to allocate at least 95 per cent of all undergraduate medical school seats to residents of Ontario, with the other five per cent reserved for students from the rest of Canada. We're also creating more opportunities for Ontarians who started their medical education abroad to be able to complete their postgraduate training in Ontario. These actions are designed to ensure Ontario medical schools are training and graduating doctors, including family doctors, who are significantly more likely to practice in Ontario.
The government will also review the visa trainee program, which trains international students sponsored by foreign governments, 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."
Through Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the Ontario government continues to take bold and decisive action to support the province's highly-skilled workforce and ensure people and their families have access to high-quality care where and when they need it, closer to home.
Quick Facts
- Ontario is opening two new medical schools at Toronto Metropolitan University and York University and has expanded medical school seats, adding more than 260 undergraduate and 449 residency spots, eventually reaching more than 500 undergraduate spots and 742 residency positions. This is the largest medical school expansion in over a decade.
- Starting in 2026-27, this expansion will result in approximately 190 additional Ontario residents in first year undergraduate medical education programs annually compared to 2024-25.
- Ontario leads the country in how many people benefit from a long-term, stable relationship with a family doctor or primary care provider. Since 2018, more than 12,500 physicians have joined the health care system, including a nearly 10% increase in family doctors.
- Through the Practice Ready Ontario program, up to 100 internationally trained family physicians will be ready to serve in rural areas by the end 2025-26.
- The Ontario government's historic expansion of interprofessional primary care teams is connecting 330,000 more people across the province to primary care. Through the 2024 Budget the province is investing an additional $546 million to connect 600,000 additional people to primary care.
- Nearly 3,800 eligible nursing, medical laboratory technology and paramedic students are training as part of the current Ontario Learn and Stay Grant.
- After completing medical school, physicians will enter postgraduate studies, known as residency programs, and earn a salary as a postgraduate learner.
Quotes
"The addition of Family Medicine to the Province's Learn and Stay Grant program is good news for both Ontario's learners and the health care needs of our families and communities. It provides another valuable incentive for students to choose a career path in primary care and it lays the groundwork for more access to family doctors in underserved and growing communities."
- Dr. Jane Philpott, Dean of Health Sciences, Queen's University
"This initiative is a positive recognition of the vital role family physicians play in delivering care across Ontario. Easing the financial burden for students choosing to practice medicine is an important step. With a continued focus on team-based care and supportive practice environments, we can further enhance the sustainability of family medicine as a career choice for future doctors, ultimately ensuring high-quality care for all patients."
- Kimberly Moran, CEO, Ontario Medical Association (OMA)
"Today's announcement is a meaningful step toward ensuring that more Ontarians can access family doctors close to home. Family doctors play a crucial role in delivering comprehensive, continuous care to patients. By reducing financial barriers for medical students, this initiative will help cultivate a new generation of dedicated family doctors committed to serving their communities and improving health outcomes across the province."
- Dr. Dominik Nowak, President, Ontario Medical Association (OMA)
"Access to primary care is critical to keeping municipalities vibrant and economically strong. AMO commends the government for this important investment that will play a key role in helping Ontarians to access care in their communities."
- Robin Jones, President of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and Mayor of Westport
"I couldn't be happier that the Province has stepped up with this exciting initiative to help each and every one of our communities to both attract and retain family doctors! Cities like Guelph know many of our citizens are looking for a primary physician. Not only for themselves, but for their families too. This program will most certainly accomplish that!"
- Cam Guthrie, Mayor of Guelph and former Chair of Ontario Big City Mayors
"Every resident deserves access to family doctor. Too many residents don't have access to primary healthcare. The Ford government is clearly indicating they are determined to change that. I am grateful for the new medical school coming to Brampton and now this announcement focused on keeping family doctors here in Ontario."
- Patrick Brown, Mayor of Brampton
"This new investment directly addresses the growing need for family doctors in Belleville and across the province. By focusing on training Ontario students, this program will also help ensure that healthcare remains accessible and community-centered, with doctors who are deeply connected to the people and places they care for."
- Neil Ellis, Mayor of Belleville
"This announcement is a vital step toward addressing the critical need for family doctors in Ontario. By ensuring more local students can pursue medical careers right here in their own province, we are not only strengthening our health-care system but also encouraging a new generation of doctors to serve communities like London. These investments will play a key role in connecting more Ontarians to the primary care they need."
- Josh Morgan, Mayor of London
"I commend the Government of Ontario for their decision to expand the Learn and Stay grant to family medicine. This funding will certainly help to address the critical need for more family doctors but also ensuring that bright, dedicated medical students like those at NOSM University can continue to live, learn and ultimately practice here in Northern Ontario. This investment will have a lasting positive impact on the health and well-being of our residents, strengthening our healthcare system for years to come."
- Paul Lefebvre, Mayor of Sudbury
"Association of Family Health Teams of Ontario (AFHTO) supports the Ontario government's initiatives to improve access to comprehensive team based primary care. Strengthening the current and future work force will help to ensure optimal care for all Ontarians."
- Jess Rogers and Crystal Holly, CEO of AFHTO and Chair of the Board of AFHTO
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