$125 million investment will connect more people to publicly funded care faster
The Ontario government is protecting the province’s health-care system by making it faster and easier for people to connect to publicly funded surgeries and procedures. The province is investing $125 million to add up to 20,000 orthopedic surgeries at community surgical centres across the province over two years. A call for applications opens today with new licences anticipated to be issued starting in early 2026.
“While Ontario has the shortest surgical wait times of any province in Canada, we’re working to deliver even more connected and convenient care for people, when and where they need it,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “That’s why our government is taking bold action to protect Ontario and boost access to publicly funded surgeries and diagnostic imaging so families can conveniently access the care they need sooner and closer to home.”
This expansion in services will reduce wait times for orthopedic surgeries, such as hip and knee replacements, ensuring that 90 per cent of Ontario patients receive care within clinically recommended timeframes.
This announcement builds on last week’s $155 million investment to add 57 community surgical and diagnostic centres to connect over 1.2 million people to MRI and CT scans and GI endoscopy services across the province and a $235 million investment to support over 130 new and expanded primary care teams that will connect 300,000 people to care this year.
As part of Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the Ontario government is expanding the number of community surgical and diagnostic centres that provide diagnostic services, surgeries and procedures, connecting more people to the high-quality care they need, when and where they need it.