‘Community-based model of medical education.. will expand access to care across northern Toronto, York Region, Simcoe County, Muskoka and beyond’
The Ontario government is investing $55.8 million into the first medical school for family doctors in the province, which will be established in York Region.
This funding will aid the planning and operation of York University’s new medical school located in Vaughan, expected to welcome its first students in 2028.
Lisa Phillips, interim president and vice-chancellor of York University, expressed gratitude for the support received.
“This will be a school where physicians are trained for the health system Ontarians need. Together with our hospital and other health-care partners, we are building a community-based model of medical education that will expand access to care across northern Toronto, York Region, Simcoe County, Muskoka and beyond as we move toward accreditation and prepare to welcome our inaugural class in 2028,” she stated in a news release.
York University has been gathering funds for several years to make this school a reality. In November 2025, the York Region council decided to allocate $25 million towards the new institution, leading to an additional property tax increase of 0.06 percent. At that time, Newmarket Mayor John Taylor mentioned that this funding could help garner support from other government levels.
“If we don’t play the role, if we don’t step in and fill this void, then we won’t get critical projects,” Taylor remarked back then.
The provincial funding will assist with initial planning phases for the school including accreditation processes, curriculum design, faculty recruitment and more. The plan is to start with 80 undergraduate spots and 102 postgraduate seats before expanding to 240 undergraduate spots and 293 postgraduate seats when fully operational.
“Ontario-trained family doctors are the backbone of our health-care system, providing compassionate care for our loved ones from everyday checkups to life’s greatest challenges,” said Nolan Quinn, minister of colleges, universities, research excellence and security. “This investment will ensure that Ontario has a strong pipeline of family care providers to deliver excellent care for decades to come.”
With York University’s new medical school opening up, Ontario will have eight medical schools overall. Once all expansions are complete by 2033 there will be a total of 1,292 undergraduate seats and 1,739 postgraduate positions available. Starting this fall all Ontario medical schools must also reserve at least 95 percent of their undergraduate spaces for residents from Ontario while keeping five percent open for applicants from elsewhere in Canada.
York University anticipates that students from this new program would complete their residency training at hospitals within York Region like Southlake Health located in Newmarket. The campus will be near Mackenzie Health’s Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital.
“Leading-edge care starts with the people who provide it – highly skilled physicians and health-care professionals with a strong medical education,” said Southlake Health CEO Dr. Paul Woods in a news release. “Southlake is proud to partner with York University to bring this new medical school to life and build a stronger more connected health system for generations to come.”
The Ontario government had also previously set aside $9 million in 2024 towards preliminary design work for this project. They continue efforts aimed at increasing doctor availability by launching a grant program starting fall 2026 which provides funds for medical students willing to practice family medicine anywhere within Ontario for five years after graduating.
“Ontario will continue taking bold action needed to protect our health-care system while growing a skilled workforce ensuring families can access high-quality care close to home now and into future generations,” stated officials from the provincial government.
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