New changes will also require medical schools to prioritize 95 per cent of undergraduate medical school seats for Ontario residents
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 (October 25, 2024) 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.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
