The Ontario government is putting over $6 million into primary care in the Waterloo region to help more residents find primary health-care providers.
Kitchener-Conestoga MPP Mike Harris announced that this funding will allow 17,444 additional people in the area to connect with a primary health-care provider.
“It means that 17,000 of your friends, neighbours, family will have an opportunity to be connected to primary care,” Harris said.
Harris made the announcement during a press conference on Monday at Community Healthcaring KW in Kitchener. He emphasized the need for reliable health-care support.
“When you have a family doctor, you’re not waiting for an emergency room for something that could have been caught earlier,” Harris stated. “And of course, what’s most important … is that people aren’t falling through the cracks.”
‘A consistent point of care’
According to local research, nearly 80,000 individuals in the Waterloo region currently lack a primary health-care provider, said Benjamin Hesch, CEO of the Woolwich Community Health Centre.
“It’s such an important opportunity as we look at expanding access to [health-care] teams,” Hesch noted. “A lot of the folks we serve need a little bit of extra help accessing care and these teams will help us make sure we can.”
The funds will be allocated among 124 healthcare centers and initiatives throughout the region based on proposals aimed at increasing access to health care for community members. This includes Woolwich Community Health Centre, Community Healthcaring KW and the KW4 Ontario Health Team which represents over 40 initiatives in the area.
Local officials and health-care professionals from Waterloo region pose for a photo at the Community Healthcaring KW center in Kitchener, Ont. on April 27, 2026. MPP Mike Harris announced the investment of $6 million from the provincial government toward primary health care. (Emma Breton/CBC)
This adds to last year’s funding of $4.1 million dedicated to primary health-care services in the region.
Heather Bullock is now serving as executive director of the KW4 Ontario Health Team. She mentioned that this funding will lead to shorter wait times, broader comprehensive care and fairer access to healthcare for marginalized communities.
“We know how important it is for families to have a consistent point of care. Someone who knows their story, their health history and is part of their community,”Bullock said.“This is not just a win for health-care providers though; it’s a win for every resident in this region.”
