Province opening applications for expanded Ontario Learn and Stay Grant with $220 million investment to support more than 2,000 future family doctors
The Ontario government has opened applications for the new Ontario Learn and Stay Grant – Medical Education (OLSG-ME) program to help more than 2,000 Ontario medical students studying to become family doctors and practice in the province. Backed by a $220 million investment, the Ontario government’s new OLSG stream will cover the undergraduate medical school tuition, books and other direct education costs for postgraduate medical students if they commit to working as family doctors anywhere in Ontario for a minimum of five years after graduation.
“Ontario’s family doctors provide the high-quality and compassionate care that keep our families and communities healthy,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “By breaking down financial barriers for our province’s next generation of family doctors, we are strengthening Ontario’s pipeline of highly skilled physicians, ensuring everyone can access the care they need, when and where they need it.”
First launched in spring 2023, the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant covers the cost of tuition, books and other direct educational costs for students in nursing, paramedic and medical laboratory technology/science programs in high-need areas of the province who commit to working in the region where they studied after graduation.
In 2024, the government announced an $88 million expansion of the OLSG program to train 1,360 future family doctors in exchange for these students agreeing to practice family medicine in any community across Ontario upon graduation. Today, the government announced applications are now open for this expanded program, with an increased investment of $220 million to support four cohorts of future family doctors, totalling more than 2,000 medical students.
“Today’s announcement builds on the bold action our government has taken to expand medical education and train the next generation of health-care professionals,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “By expanding the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant to include family medicine, we are taking the next step in ensuring Ontario has the world-class health-care workforce it needs for years to come.”
The expanded program could help up to 2 million people become or remain attached to primary care based on average attachment rates for family doctors. While Ontario continues to lead the country with nearly 90 per cent of people connected to a primary care provider, the province has set clear goals in its Primary Care Action Plan to connect every person to a family doctor or primary care team by 2029.
“Thank you to the Ontario Government for this important investment in the next generation of family physicians in the province,” said Dr. John Yoo, Dean of Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University. “This support is critical to improving access to primary care for people across Ontario. Western is proud to play a leading role in training future family doctors. We are committed to ensuring our medical students and residents have meaningful opportunities to learn and train in rural and regional communities, strengthening the physician workforce and improving access to high-quality care across Southwestern Ontario.”
Students can learn more at the Ontario Learn and Stay – Medical Education webpage.
Quick Facts
- In order to be eligible for the OLSG-ME program, students must be enrolled in a postgraduate family medicine residency program at an Ontario medical school.
- The four cohorts of students covered by this investment will begin their residency between July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2030.
- Through the Ontario 2025 budget, the government invested $261.7 million into the Ontario Learn and Stay program to continue supporting nurses, paramedics, and medical lab techs who commit to working in high need regions of the province.
- To date, the Ontario government has invested more than $182 million through OLSG to fund the education of 13,300 future nurses, paramedics and medical lab technologists in high need areas of the province.
- The government is investing in the largest medical school education expansion in more than a decade by adding 340 undergraduate seats and 551 postgraduate medical residency positions by 2028-29, representing a 67 per cent increase in family medicine learners.
- In July 2026, the Ontario government announced $55.8 million to support the planning and operations of York University’s new School of Medicine, the first medical school in Ontario that is focused on training family doctors.
- As part of the government’s historic $6.4 billion postsecondary funding model, the province is investing $1.7 billion to fund 70,000 seats in key, labour-market driven sectors including 16,100 more seats in health care programs.
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
