Ontario Expands Learn and Stay Grant to Address Family Doctor Shortage

In a significant move to enhance healthcare access across the province, the Ontario government has announced the expansion of the Learn and Stay Grant to include family medicine training. This initiative aims to address the persistent shortage of family doctors in Ontario and to ensure that more residents have access to regular healthcare providers.

Tackling the Healthcare Gap

Despite ongoing efforts, approximately 10% of Ontarians currently do not have a family doctor. To bridge this gap, Premier Doug Ford unveiled plans to invest an estimated $88 million over three years, starting in 2026, to support 1,360 eligible undergraduate students who commit to practicing family medicine. The funding will cover full tuition and other direct educational costs, including books, supplies, and equipment. In return, these students will agree to serve as family physicians in communities across Ontario.

“This initiative is about connecting every person in Ontario to primary care, regardless of where they live,” Premier Ford stated during the announcement. “By training more family doctors than ever before, we’re ensuring that they live, learn, and stay in Ontario, benefiting our communities and healthcare system.”

Key Features of the Expanded Grant

  1. Financial Support for Medical Students: The Learn and Stay Grant is designed to ease the financial burdens on students pursuing careers in family medicine. By covering tuition and educational costs, this grant allows graduates to focus on their training without the overwhelming stress of student debt.
  2. Prioritizing Ontario Residents: Starting in fall 2026, new legislation will require all Ontario medical schools to allocate at least 95% of their undergraduate medical school seats to residents of Ontario. This change is expected to produce a new generation of doctors who are more likely to practice in their home communities, addressing local healthcare needs effectively.
  3. New Medical Schools and Residency Opportunities: The government is taking bold steps to expand medical education in Ontario. Two new medical schools will open at Toronto Metropolitan University and York University, contributing to an increase of over 500 undergraduate medical spots and 742 residency positions. This expansion marks the largest increase in medical school capacity in over a decade, significantly boosting the number of trained healthcare professionals entering the system.
  4. Focus on Rural Healthcare: The Practice Ready Ontario program aims to prepare up to 100 internationally trained family physicians for practice in rural areas by the end of the 2025-26 academic year. This initiative is particularly vital for underserved communities that often struggle to attract and retain healthcare professionals.

Reactions from Healthcare Leaders

The expansion of the Learn and Stay Grant has received widespread support from healthcare professionals and community leaders. Dr. Jane Philpott, Dean of Health Sciences at Queen’s University, praised the initiative, stating, “The addition of Family Medicine to the Learn and Stay Grant program is good news for both Ontario’s learners and the health care needs of our families and communities. It provides another valuable incentive for students to choose a career path in primary care.”

Kimberly Moran, CEO of the Ontario Medical Association (OMA), emphasized the importance of this initiative in promoting sustainable family medicine careers. “Easing the financial burden for students choosing to practice medicine is an important step. With a continued focus on team-based care and supportive practice environments, we can further enhance the sustainability of family medicine as a career choice for future doctors.”

Commitment to Primary Care Access

This announcement reflects the Ontario government’s ongoing commitment to strengthening the province’s healthcare system. With an investment of an additional $546 million in the 2024 Budget, the government aims to connect an additional 600,000 people to primary care services through the historic expansion of interprofessional primary care teams.

As Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, stated, “By making it easier for residents to stay in Ontario to go to medical school, our government is taking the next step to connect more people to world-class healthcare right in their own communities.”

Conclusion

With the expansion of the Learn and Stay Grant, Ontario is taking crucial steps to train and retain a new generation of family doctors dedicated to serving their communities. As healthcare needs continue to grow, initiatives like this will play a vital role in ensuring that every Ontarian has access to the care they need.