Ontario Investing an Additional $1,122,653 to Expand Primary Care Workforce in Waterloo Region
February 17, 2026
Investment will add 350 health-care workers to local primary care teams as part of Ontario’s $2.1 billion Primary Care Action Plan
NEWS
WATERLOO REGION — The Ontario government is continuing to deliver on its commitment to protect Ontario’s health-care system by investing $30 million to expand the province’s primary care health-care workforce. This new funding will upskill over 1,400 registered nurses for primary care, create 170 primary care nurse practitioner education seats and add up to 150 physician assistant education seats as part of the government’s $2.1 billion Primary Care Action Plan to connect everyone in Ontario to primary care by 2029.
“Our government is continuing to take bold action to further protect Ontario’s world-class health-care workforce now and for years to come,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “By increasing the number of nurse practitioners and physician assistants, while upskilling registered nurses, we are taking one more step towards our goal of ensuring everyone can connect to primary care.”
“Conestoga plays a huge role in training the people who care for our community,” said Jess Dixon, MPP Kitchener South – Hespeler. “This investment in a new primary care program is practical and focused on many crucial areas of patient care — chronic disease, screening, and maternal and child care. Strengthening those skills locally helps more people in Waterloo Region get connected to care.”
In addition, to support the recruitment and retention of nurses in primary care, Ontario is investing $1.1 Million at Conestoga College for a new, innovative program that will help registered nurses gain skills and experience in primary care, including:
- chronic disease management
- cancer screening
- maternal and child care
- immunizations
“Today’s investment builds on our government’s critical work to protect Ontario’s health-care workforce today, and into the future,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “This new upskilling program and seat expansions will ensure that Ontario continues to have highly skilled workers to connect more people across the province to compassionate health care, close to home.”
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
- The primary care upskilling program for registered nurses is a 12-week program that provides additional education and training to support working in primary care settings. Upon completion, registered nurses will receive a certificate from the program.
- Since the launch of the government’s $2.1 billion Primary Care Action Plan, Ontario has already attached over 275,000 new patients to a primary care provider, putting the province on track to meet or exceed its target of connecting 300,000 new people to care in 2025-26 and every Ontarian to a primary care provider by 2029.
- The government is investing in the largest medical school education expansion in more than a decade by adding 340 undergraduate seats and 551 postgraduate positions by 2028-29, representing a 67 per cent increase in family medicine graduates.
- Nurse practitioners have an expanded scope of practice and can diagnose, order and interpret diagnostic tests, prescribe medications and perform specific procedures, making them essential in primary care environments.
- Since 2018, Ontario has added over 100,000 new nurses and nearly 20,000 additional physicians to its health-care workforce, including an over 14 per cent increase in family doctors.
- Ontario is taking significant steps to strengthen its health-care workforce by making it easier for U.S.-licensed nurses and board-certified physicians to move to and practise in Ontario. In 2025, over 1,700 nurses and more than 450 doctors from the US have already chosen Ontario.
- In August 2025, the Ontario government invested $56.8 million to train 2,200 more nurses for communities across the province.
QUOTES
“Nurses are the backbone of our health-care system. This investment at Conestoga College will equip local nurses with advanced primary care training to serve more families in our community. Our government is strengthening healthcare teams and improving access to care, right here at home.”
Mike Harris
MPP for Kitchener–Conestoga
“Conestoga College is pleased to support the strengthening of Ontario’s nursing workforce through the province’s new primary care upskilling program. This investment aligns with Conestoga’s long-standing commitment to delivering career‑ready, health‑focused education that is responsive to the evolving needs of our communities. We remain dedicated to preparing registered nurses with the advanced skills and competencies required to contribute to high-quality, accessible primary care across the province.”
Norma McDonald Ewing
Conestoga Interim President
“Primary care in Ontario is evolving, and nurses are taking an increasingly central role in how patients access and experience care. This program was intentionally designed to meet learners where they are, providing flexible, high-quality education that fits into the realities of their busy lives, and equips them with practical skills to make immediate contributions as part of a collaborative health team.”
Michelle Heyer
Chair, Nursing & Health Sciences at Conestoga
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Media Contacts
Bonita Dua
MPP Jess Dixon
Bonita.dua@pc.ola.org
Lucas Fuendling
MPP Mike Harris
Lucas.fuendling@pc.ola.org