Funding Boost for Primary Health Care in Waterloo

The Ontario government is putting more than $6 million into primary care in the Waterloo region, aiming to link more residents with health-care providers. 

Kitchener-Conestoga MPP Mike Harris stated that 17,444 additional individuals in the area will gain access to a primary health-care provider thanks to this funding. 

“It means that 17,000 of your friends, neighbours, family will have an opportunity to be connected to primary care,” Harris said. 

Harris shared this news at a press conference on Monday held by Community Healthcaring KW in Kitchener. He emphasized the need for consistent 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 said. “And of course, what’s most important … is that people aren’t falling through the cracks.”

‘A steady source of care’

Nearly 80,000 individuals in the Waterloo region currently lack a primary health-care provider, according to local research, as noted by Benjamin Hesch, CEO of Woolwich Community Health Centre. 

“It’s such an important opportunity as we look at expanding access to [health-care] teams,” Hesch said. “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 funding will be allocated among 124 healthcare centers and initiatives throughout the region based on proposals aimed at enhancing access 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 $4.1 million in funding for primary health-care services in the region. 

Heather Bullock is now serving as executive director of KW4 Ontario Health Team. She mentioned that this funding will lead to shorter wait times, more comprehensive care and fairer access to health care for underserved 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.”

Province-wide initiative

This effort aligns with an Ontario-wide initiative from the provincial government aimed at boosting access to primary care physicians. 

In February 2024, Ontario’s Primary Care Action Plan was revealed with an investment totaling $110 million. The province has invested $3.4 billion so far and met its initial goal of connecting over 300,000 people with healthcare providers by March 2026.

Harris mentioned that this represents another step towards achieving the government’s aim that all Ontario residents have a primary care provider by 2029. He was joined at the press conference by mayors from Waterloo, Woolwich and Wellesley along with Waterloo Regional chair Karen Redman.

“Here in Waterloo region, we know the demand for primary care continues to grow,” Redman said. “Primary care is the foundation of a strong and effective healthcare system; when people can get care close to home … they’re healthier and it eases pressure across the broader system.”

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