Ontario’s plan to expand access to primary care is facing criticism after the province missed a federal funding deadline tied to nurse practitioner services, while unveiling a new physician agreement the same day.
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles says the missed deadline leaves the province out of compliance with the Canada Health Act and raises concerns that some patients may be forced to pay out of pocket for primary care. She says nurse practitioner led clinics, which serve many communities, require stable funding to ensure services remain publicly accessible.
The province, meanwhile, announced a new 2024 to 2028 Physician Services Agreement on the same day the deadline passed. The agreement is aimed at improving access to care by increasing compensation, offering incentives for doctors to take on new patients, and expanding after hours services such as evenings and weekends.
Provincial officials say the agreement is part of a broader plan to connect all Ontarians to a primary care provider by 2029. The government also points to progress through its Primary Care Action Plan, which it says has already connected more than 330,000 people to care.
However, the opposition says the timing of the announcement raises questions about priorities, particularly as an estimated 2.5 million Ontarians remain without a family doctor.
The government says its approach will strengthen the health care workforce and improve access over time, while critics argue immediate gaps in care, including access to nurse practitioners, still need to be addressed.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
