Ontario Becomes First to Legislate Primary Care Framework

May 22, 2025

On May 22, 2025, our government introduced the Primary Care Act, 2025 — groundbreaking legislation that, if passed, will make Ontario the first province in Canada to establish a formal framework for its publicly funded primary care system. This means Ontarians will have a clearer understanding of what they can expect when accessing primary care, regardless of where they live.

This new legislation is a key part of Ontario’s Primary Care Action Plan, which aims to connect two million more people to primary care over the next four years. The goal is to ensure every person in Ontario has access to a family doctor or primary care team.

As part of the upcoming 2025 Ontario Budget, the government is also investing up to $300 million to build or expand 17 new community-based primary care teaching clinics in areas with high rates of unattached patients. These clinics will provide direct care and serve as training grounds for new healthcare professionals—helping connect another 300,000 people to care. This brings Ontario’s total investment in the Primary Care Action Plan to $2.1 billion.

Through the Your Health plan, the government is committed to expanding the health care workforce and improving access to high-quality, connected care for every community in Ontario.