TORONTO, August 5, 2026 — The Ontario College of Family Physicians (OCFP) today called on the Ontario government to take urgent action to address the growing shortage of family physicians, as new data shows the number of Ontarians without a primary care provider has risen to 2.3 million.
“Family physicians are the backbone of Ontario’s health system,” said Dr. Sarah Chen, President of the OCFP. “When patients cannot access a family doctor, they delay care, their conditions worsen, and they end up in emergency departments that are already overwhelmed. This is a crisis that demands immediate government action.”
The OCFP is calling for a five-point action plan including:
- Immediate investment in training additional family physicians
- Expanded support for international medical graduates
- Reduction of administrative burden that is driving physicians out of practice
- Support for team-based care models
- Fair and sustainable compensation reform
The OCFP represents more than 18,000 family physicians and medical students across Ontario. It is the Ontario chapter of the College of Family Physicians of Canada.
For media inquiries, contact Karen Liu at media@ontariofamilyphysicians.ca or 416-867-9646.