Ontario Connecting 17,444 More People to Primary Care in Waterloo Region
April 27, 2026
$6 million investment brings the province one step closer to connecting everyone in Ontario to primary care by 2029
Kitchener —The Ontario government is taking the next steps to deliver its Primary Care Action Plan, which is on track to connect everyone in the province to a family doctor or primary care provider by 2029..
As part of this plan to connect everyone in Ontario to a publicly funded family doctor or primary care team, the Ontario government is investing more than $6 Million this year to connect up to 17,444 people to primary care in Waterloo region.
“Ontario is continuing to build a health care system that is connected and convenient for every single person in Waterloo Region,” said Mike Harris, MPP for Kitchener – Conestoga. “Through this investment, over 17,000 more people will be able to access local care teams for high quality care right here in our community.”
Community Healthcaring Kitchener-Waterloo, Woolwich Community Health Centre, and their KW4 OHT community partners were funded through the latest call for proposals under the Primary Care Action Plan, with all 124 teams receiving funding expected to connect another 500,000 patients to primary care across Ontario. Each team has established a plan to attach a high proportion of unattached people in their community, including those on the Health Care Connect waitlist.
Through the 2026 Budget, the province is also increasing overall funding for the plan to a total of $3.4 billion between 2025 and 2029.
The province has also exceeded its 2025-2026 attachment goal under the Primary Care Action Plan, which was to connect 300,000 patients to a primary care provider by March 31, 2026. As of January 1, 2026, the province has already attached 330,000 people to care in 2025-2026, surpassing its goal by more than 30,000 with three months still to go.
“Through our Primary Care Action Plan, we are connecting more people to care and have already exceeded our 2025-26 attachment target,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “By connecting more families to care in Waterloo region, our government is taking the next step toward connecting everyone in the province to primary care by 2029.”
Through Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the Ontario government continues to take bold and decisive action to grow the province’s highly skilled health-care workforce and ensure people and their families have access to high-quality care, closer to home, for generations to come.
QUICK FACTS
- Ontario’s Primary Care Action Team is drawing on best-in-class models of care to implement its action plan, supported by the government’s investment of more than $3.4 billion to connect approximately two million more people to primary care by 2029, which will achieve the government’s goal of connecting everyone in the province to primary care.
- The government is making significant progress on its goal of clearing the Health Care Connect waitlist as of January 1, 2025. That waitlist has been reduced by more than 87 per cent as the plan continues to hit its targets and deliver faster access to high-quality care.
- Ontarians looking to find a family doctor or nurse practitioner can register with Health Care Connect or call 811.
- Interprofessional primary care teams connect people to a range of health professionals that work together under one roof, including family physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, registered practical nurses, physician assistants, physiotherapists, social workers, dieticians and pharmacists, helping patients to receive more connected and convenient care.
- Since 2018, Ontario has added nearly 20,000 additional physicians to its health-care workforce, including an over 14 per cent increase in family doctors.
Additional Quotes
“The Ontario government’s continued investment in our region ensures we stay focused on reducing waitlists and more people in the Kitchener-Waterloo area have access to primary care. Our community has a strong network of dedicated healthcare professionals, and this funding builds on their ability to expand their reach, providing timely and comprehensive care to those who need it most.”
- Jess Dixon, MPP Kitchener South – Hespeler
“We are incredibly proud of what has been achieved through PCAP 01, made possible by the strength and trust of our partnerships, and the support of the KW4 Ontario Health Team and Primary Care Network. This shared commitment to a coordinated, system-wide approach enabled us to surpass our targets and connect more individuals to primary care than anticipated. Our success reflects the strong foundation of relationships, innovation, and a collective willingness to work together across Kitchener-Waterloo to ensure stable, accessible primary care for all who live here. As we look ahead to PCAP 02, we are excited to build on this momentum, deepening these partnerships and continuing to work collaboratively toward the Government of Ontario’s goal of ensuring every Ontarian has access to permanent, connected primary care.”
- Tara Groves-Taylor, Chief Executive Officer, Community Healthcaring Kitchener-Waterloo.
“The funding recognizes the urgent need to strengthen primary care access across Woolwich, Wellesley, and Wilmot Townships. By expanding our integrated team, Woolwich Community Health Centre (WCHC) can attach over 5,000 patients to comprehensive, coordinated care, and reduce pressures across the health system while improving health outcomes for people who have faced barriers to accessWe are grateful for MPP Harris’ advocacy for our proposal, which includes partnering with the Nith Valley Family Practice and establish an additional clinic in New Hamburg to support residents of Wilmot.”
- Benjamin Hesch, Chief Executive Officer, Woolwich Community Health Centre
“Comprehensive, person-centered integrated care require a foundation of strong, team-based primary care that is intentionally connected to the broader health and social system. KW4 OHT is proud of the strong trust we have collectively built across providers and community partners in our region. That foundation has allowed us to move quickly and collaboratively in designing and building a system that puts people first. The funding announced today will have a real and lasting impact on the people we serve including more equitable access for marginalized populations who have historically faced barriers to care”.
- Dr. Heather Bullock, Executive Director, KW4 OHT
“Access to primary care is fundamental to the health and wellbeing of our community. This investment will help connect thousands of Kitchener and Waterloo Region residents to the care they need, closer to home, while strengthening the partnerships that make our local health system work. I want to thank the Province and our healthcare partners for their collaboration and commitment to improving access to care for our community.”
- Berry Vrbanovic, Mayor of Kitchener
“Here in Woolwich, we look out for one another and expect practical, reliable services we can count on. Whether on a farm, in Elmira, St. Jacobs or Breslau, or across our rural communities, access to primary care close to home matters. This investment supports that priority by helping more residents connect to the care they need, while strengthening a more coordinated and accessible local health system.”
- Sandy Shantz, Mayor of Woolwich Township
“This is a meaningful step forward for Wilmot. Expanding team-based primary care in New Hamburg will connect more residents to care close to home, improving quality of life, reducing system pressures, and supporting our local workforce and businesses. This is the kind of community-based solution needed to build a stronger, more connected health system. I appreciate the Province, WCHC, and local folks for their partnership in delivering this for our community.”
- Natasha Salonen, Mayor of Wilmot Township