The Ontario government has announced a $30 million investment aimed at enhancing the skills of nurses in primary care, while also increasing the overall number of healthcare providers in the province.
As stated by the Ministry of Health, this funding will help over 1,400 registered nurses gain new skills for primary care, establish 170 educational opportunities for primary care nurses, and create up to 150 training positions for physician assistants.
Primary care serves as the initial point of medical contact in Ontario and is provided by nurses, family doctors, and various healthcare teams.
“Our government is continuing to take bold action to further protect Ontario’s world-class health-care workforce now and for years to come,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health during an announcement made today in Brampton. “By increasing the number of nurse practitioners and physician assistants while enhancing the skills of registered nurses, we are taking one more step toward our goal of ensuring everyone can connect to primary care.”
To aid in recruiting and retaining nurses in primary care roles, Ontario is investing over $4.5 million into a new program designed to help over 1,400 registered nurses acquire experience and skills in areas such as:
chronic disease management cancer screening maternal and child care immunizations
This upskilling program for registered nurses lasts 12 weeks and offers additional education and training tailored for work in primary care settings. After completing the program, registered nurses will receive a certificate.
Set to launch this year, the program will be offered in collaboration with Conestoga College, Lakehead University, Trent University, and Western University. This initiative aims to equip registered nurses with essential skills needed immediately within a primary care environment. As one of the first programs like this, it intends to allow family doctors and nurse practitioners more time to focus on patients who have complex needs.
“Today’s investment builds on our government’s critical work to protect Ontario’s health-care workforce today and into the future,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “This new upskilling program along with seat expansions will ensure that Ontario continues having highly skilled workers available to connect more people across the province with compassionate healthcare close to home.”
Ontario is also allocating $8.5 million towards adding up to 170 new training seats for primary care nurse practitioner education beginning this year. Nursing schools participating include Lakehead University, Laurentian University, Mc Master University, the University of Ottawa, Queen’s University, Toronto Metropolitan University, the University of Toronto, the University of Windsor, Western University and York University. This expansion aims to increase the number of nurse practitioners working in primary care throughout Ontario so families can access services faster.
Additionally starting from 2026-27 onward; there will be a further investment of $16 million aimed at creating up to 150 new educational positions for physician assistants at universities across Ontario. Physician assistants play an important role by helping reduce wait times while improving patient access within primary care services throughout Ontario. Working under a physician’s supervision allows physician assistants collaboration with other members from healthcare teams when providing medical services.
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Set to launch this year, the program will be offered in collaboration with Conestoga College, Lakehead University, Trent University, and Western University. This initiative aims to equip registered nurses with essential skills needed immediately within a primary care environment. As one of the first programs like this, it intends to allow family doctors and nurse practitioners more time to focus on patients who have complex needs.
“Today’s investment builds on our government’s critical work to protect Ontario’s health-care workforce today and into the future,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “This new upskilling program along with seat expansions will ensure that Ontario continues having highly skilled workers available to connect more people across the province with compassionate healthcare close to home.”
Ontario is also allocating $8.5 million towards adding up to 170 new training seats for primary care nurse practitioner education beginning this year. Nursing schools participating include Lakehead University, Laurentian University, Mc Master University, the University of Ottawa, Queen’s University, Toronto Metropolitan University, the University of Toronto, the University of Windsor, Western University and York University. This expansion aims to increase the number of nurse practitioners working in primary care throughout Ontario so families can access services faster.
Additionally starting from 2026-27 onward; there will be a further investment of $16 million aimed at creating up to 150 new educational positions for physician assistants at universities across Ontario. Physician assistants play an important role by helping reduce wait times while improving patient access within primary care services throughout Ontario. Working under a physician’s supervision allows physician assistants collaboration with other members from healthcare teams when providing medical services.
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