Thanks to nearly $5 million in funding from the Government of Ontario, more than 10,000 people in the Greater Hamilton area will be able to connect with a family doctor or primary care provider.
The $4.94 million investment was provided to the Hamilton Family Health Team, in partnership with the Greater Hamilton Health Network (GHHN) and GHHN Primary Care Network, through the Government of Ontario’s latest call for proposals under the Primary Care Action Plan
The Primary Care Action Plan is reportedly “on track” to connect everyone in the province of Ontario to a family doctor or primary care provider by 2029.
The latest funding will go to 124 healthcare teams across the province and is expected to connect 500,000 residents to primary care access.
As part of the call for proposals process, each healthcare team presented the province with its plan to connect residents in their respective regions to primary care providers, including those on the Health Care Connect waitlist.
Monica Ciriello, Member of Provincial Parliament for Hamilton Mountain, announced the new funding alongside the Hamilton Family Health Team.
“This investment will connect over 10,000 more individuals to accessible, convenient primary care in the Greater Hamilton Area. This means shorter wait times, closer to home care when members of our community need it most,” said Ciriello.
Gloria Jordan, the CEO of the Hamilton Family Health Team, said that they are “thrilled” to receive the funding.
“Our primary care teams hold patients over their lifetimes, providing critical care and guidance as patients navigate through the entire health system. With this transformative investment, we will be able to connect thousands more residents to the comprehensive, team-based primary care they deserve,” said Jordan.
The Government of Ontario increased overall funding for the Primary Care Action Plan through the 2026 budget, with a total of $3.4 billion set to be spent by 2029.
The government also notes that they have exceeded their 2025-2026 attachment goal under the Primary Care Action Plan.
The province’s goal was to connect 300,000 patients to a primary care provider by March 31, 2026.
According to the most recent data, which covers up until January 1, 2026, the province connected 330,000 people to primary care.
The government is also specifically focused on clearing the Health Care Connect waitlist, which has been reduced by more than 87 per cent.
Ontarians looking to find a family doctor or nurse practitioner can register with Health Care Connect or call 811.
Residents of Hamilton, Haldimand, and Niagara Northwest who are without a family doctor in their area can reach out to the Hamilton Family Health Team by phone (365-317-8117) or email (attach@hamiltonfht.ca) to get connected.
Primary care teams consist of multiple different health professionals who work together under one roof, including family physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, registered practical nurses, physician assistants, physiotherapists, social workers, dietitians, and pharmacists.
Based in Hamilton, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
