As part of its $2.1 billion Primary Care Action Plan to connect everyone in Ontario to a publicly funded family doctor or primary care team, the Ontario Government is investing $1,229,000 this year to connect up to 1200 people to primary care in Bancroft. This investment is part of the government’s Primary Care Action Plan that will help connect 300,000 people to primary care this year.
The Tsi Kanonhkhwatsheriyo Indigenous Interprofessional Primary Care Team is expanding to serve all Indigenous community members in the South East sub-region at three locations: Bancroft (new), Kingston, and Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory.
“Our government’s investment in the Tsi Kanonhkhwatsheriyo Indigenous Interprofessional Primary Care Team will add a much-needed new site in Bancroft, connecting more Indigenous community members with culturally safe, team-based primary care close to home.” said Ric Bresee, MPP for Hastings-Lennox & Addington. “Strengthening primary care means more people attached to the right provider and better health outcomes for families—today and for the next generation.”
The Tsi Kanonhkhwatsheriyo Indigenous Interprofessional Primary Care Team was funded through a recent call for proposals focused on communities—identified by postal code—with the highest number of residents not connected to primary care, including those on the Health Care Connect waitlist. Each successful team has established a plan to attach a high proportion of unattached people in their postal codes and demonstrated readiness to achieve significant progress within a year.
“I think this investment is an important step forward in providing culturally safe care to our Indigenous communities and in advancing health equity by keeping Indigenous health in Indigenous hands.” said Tera Osborne, Executive Director of Tsi Kanonhkhwatsheriyo Indigenous Interprofessional Primary Care Team. “It will provide a space for Indigenous Peoples in Bancroft and surrounding area to access care that integrates traditional and cultural practices and community-based care with Western models and builds trust within the healthcare system. I look forward to our continued growth and partnership development in the community.”
This investment is part of the more than $2.1 billion the Ontario government is investing to support the Primary Care Action Plan that will add over 300 new primary care teams across the province. This includes $235 million in 2025-26 that in part is supporting over 130 new and expanded primary care teams across the province.
“We are continuing to build on our government’s record investments, which have helped secure Ontario the highest rate of access to a regular health-care provider in the country,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “We are protecting Ontario’s health-care system and people’s access to convenient care by funding new and expanded primary care teams across the province, helping connect everyone in Ontario to a primary care provider.”
(PAUL MARTIN)
