CHAPLEAU EXPRESS,April24,2025-Page2
CouncilBriefs
SpecialMeetingOfCouncil Tuesday,February18,2025
At6:30P.m.InTheCivicCentreBoardroom Attendance:
MayorRyanBignucolo
Councillor Cathy Ansara Councillor Paul BernierCouncillorAlexLambruschini
ExcusedAbsence:DeputyMayorL.Bernier
Staff: Judith Meyntz, CAO Les Jones, Treasurer, Rejean Raymond, Operations Director Sam St. Amand, Public Works Manager
Carole Ouellette, Leisure & Cultural Services Manager
Guests:AntoinetteBlunt,IronsideConsulting John Hart, Ritchie Ketcheson Hart & Biggart LLP
Attendees: 12
1. CALLMEETINGTOORDER
THAT the Council of the Corporation of the Township of Chapleau does hereby call the SpecialCouncilMeetingofTuesday,February 18,2025toorderat6:30p.m. INDIGENOUSLAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Municipality of Chapleau is situatedontheancestraltreatyandtitlelandsof theAnishinabeandCreepeoplesintheTreaty9 area, and recognizes the neighbouring First Nations of Brunswick House, Chapleau Cree, ChapleauOjibwe,MichipicotenandMissanabi Cree.
We acknowledge the long history of First Nations and Metis People in Ontario and showrespecttothemtoday.
2.APPROVALOFAGENDA
RESOLUTION03-43:
P.BERNIER-C.ANSARA
WHEREAS the Members of Council have been presented with an Agenda for the SpecialCouncilMeetingofTuesday,February 18,2025; BEITRESOLVEDTHATtheAgenda beadoptedaspresented.
3. DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST
Carried.
Mayor Bignucolo requested that any pecuniaryinterestbedeclaredfortherecordand nonewasdeclared.
4. RESOLUTION RESOLUTION 0344:
P.BERNIER,A.LAMBRUSCHINI
THAT Council of the Township of Chapleau does hereby appoint Mayor Ryan Bignucolo to work with staff on the upcoming budget preparations, including providing recommendationsfor actions for consideration byCouncil.
Carried.
5. TRAINING SESSION FOR COUNCIL ANDSTAFF
4.1 Introduction to Presenters: Antoinette Blunt, Integrity Commissioner and John Hart, RitchieKetchesonHart&BiggartLLP
JohnHart:
• RoleofCouncil
• RoleofMayor
• RoleofStaff
• WhatisConflictofInterest
• WhodeclaresaConflictofInterest?
• How to Avoid COI in Bidding Processes
• Whataboutsub-contractors
AntoinetteBlunt
• How does Council provide direction to staff?
4.2 Questions from Staff and/or Council relatedtotrainingsessionitems
Clerk’s Note: Mayor Bignucolo also permitted questionsfromthepublic
12.CONFIRMATORYBY-LAW RESOLUTION03-45:
A.LAMBRUSCHINI-P.BERNIER
THAT By-law No. 2025-12, being a confirmatory by-law for the Special Council Meeting of Tuesday, February 18, 2025, be given a First, Second, Third and final reading andispassedasofthisdate.
Carried
13. ADJOURNMENT RESOLUTION 03-46:
C.ANSARA–P.BERNIER
WHEREAS the business of the Meeting has concluded:
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVEDTHATthismeetingbeadjourned at8:01p.m.untiltheRegularCouncilmeeting of Monday, February 24, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. or thecalloftheChair.
Carried
REGULARMEETINGOFCOUNCIL MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2025 at 6:30 PM
IN THE CIVIC CENTRE COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Attendance:
MayorRyanBignucolo
Deputy Mayor Lisi Bernier Councillor Cathy Ansara Councillor Alex Lambruschini CouncillorPaulBernier
Staff: JudithMeyntz,CAORéjeanRaymond, Operations Director, Carole Ouellette, Leisure &CulturalServicesManager
Guests: 0
Attendees: 4
1. CALLMEETINGTOORDER
THAT the Council of the Corporation of the Township of Chapleau does hereby call the RegularCouncilMeetingofMonday,February
24,2025toorderat6:30p.m. INDIGENOUSLAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
TheMunicipalityofChapleauissituatedonthe ancestraltreatyandtitlelandsoftheAnishinabe and Cree peoples in the Treaty 9 area, and recognizes the neighbouring First Nations of Brunswick House, Chapleau Cree, Chapleau Ojibwe,MichipicotenandMissanabiCree. We acknowledge the long history of First Nations and Metis People in Ontario and showrespecttothemtoday.
2.APPROVALOFAGENDA RESOLUTION04-47:
A.LAMBRUSCHINI–L.BERNIER
WHEREAS the Members of Council have been presented with an Agenda for the RegularCouncilMeetingofMonday,February 24,2025;
BEITRESOLVEDTHATtheAgenda beadoptedasamended.AddBusinessItem7.13 FinancialReportingUpdate Carried.
3. DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTEREST
Mayor Bignucolo requested that any pecuniaryinterestbedeclaredfortherecord.
• Deputy Mayor, L. Bernier, declared Conflict of Interest with Correspondence Item 10.b
• CouncillorP.Bernier,declaredConflict ofInterestwithCorrespondenceItem10.b
4. DELEGATIONS-None
5. COMMITTEE OF ADJUSTMENTNone
6.CONSENTAGENDARESOLUTION0448:
P.BERNIER–A.LAMBRUSCHINI
WHEREAS the Council of the Township of Chapleau has reviewed the Consent Agenda consistingof:
6.1 Council and Committee Meeting Minutes
6.1.1 Regular Council Meeting Minutes for Monday,January27,2025
6.1.2 Special Council Meeting Minutes for Tuesday,February18,2025
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THATtheCounciloftheTownshipofChapleau does hereby approve the Regular Council MeetingMinutesforMonday,January27,2025 and the Special Council Meeting Minutes for Tuesday,February18,2025. Carried.
7. BUSINESSRESOLUTION04-49: L.BERNIER–C.ANSARA
7.1 OCWACapitalBudgetReview
THATtheCounciloftheTownshipofChapleau doesherebyreceivetheOCWACapitalBudget reportforinformation.
Carried.Cont’donP.4
Moments
Moments
GeorgeTheriaultrelaxeswithprimeministers MackenzieKingandLouisSt.Laurent
by MichaelJ. Morris
by MichaelJ. Morris
When George Theriault was in the Royal CanadianAirForce,onnumerousoccasionshewas calledupontoflydignitariesliketheprimeminister toasecludedlakeforafewhoursordaysoffishing, huntingorjustplainrelaxing.
Inhiswonderfulbook'TrespassinginGod's Country - Sixty Years of Flying in Northern Canada', he includes a chapter, 'Relaxing with the Prime Ministers'. In 1954, after retiring from the RCAF, he established the main base for Theriault AirServiceatChapleau.Hehadjoinedtheairforce in1940duringWorldWarII.
He reveals that before Prime Minister Mackenzie King retired in 1948, "I had several opportunities to socialize with him at his summer home in Kingsmere, a small lake in the Gatineau Park, where he loved to spend the weekends. He
enjoyed the simple pleasure of sitting on his verandah and chatting about all the unimportant detailsoflife."
Mr. Theriault gives an insightful look into the life of Mr. King when he was out of the public eye. One day he relates that the prime minister in "hisveryshyway"ifhewoulddohimafavour.
"Hehadsomeyoungchildrenvisitingfrom Ottawa,andhewantedthemtoseethecountryfrom theairinmyJ-3CubwhichIusuallyflewtothelake on weekends. He even offered to pay for the gasoline for the trips... Naturally, I agreed to the tripsbutwouldn'tacceptpaymentforthegasoline."
Hetriedtoconvincetheprimeminister"to come up for a spin but he politely declined saying that he only flew when he was on business. He preferred to have his feet on the ground when he wasrelaxing."
Justimaginesittingonaverandahwiththe prime minister today "sipping some cool drinks." Well, Mr. Theriault did, and was asked by Prime Minister King what the average air force pilot earned as a yearly salary, then added how much would a similar pilot flying for Trans Canada Airlines(nowAirCanadamake).
Mr. Theriault replied that hemadeabout$4800ayear,anda TCApilotabout$10000ayear.
One of the other air force officials present asked the prime ministerhissalary.Mr.King"was silent for a while , and then responded that he made under $10000;thiswasinthesummerof 1948!"
Turning to Prime Minister LouisSt.Laurent,whosucceeded Mr. King later in 1948. Mr. Theriaultwrote,"wefoundaboss whoreallylikedtorelaxinaboat orcanoe."
"IfMr.StLaurentonlyhad afewhourstorelaxandfish,Iflew him in a Norseman to a private camp north of Ottawa... we could leave Ottawa after 5 p.m. and returnby10p.m."
Mr. Theriault always enjoyedfishingwithhim"because he would just paddle a 16-foot canoe out onto a lake and sit for hours. There was no competition, nohurrytocatchafish.Itseemed tobeawayofmeditationforhim. Afterafewhoursofflyfishinghis whole countenance brightened andtheweightofofficeseemedto growlighteronhisshoulders.
"Catching a fish seemed less important t o himthantheexperienceofjustsittinginthecanoe movinghisfishinglineinandoutofthewater.Inthe privacy of nature, he seemed to allow the pressure of government business to dissolve. The hours spentwithhiminacanoewerebeyondtherealmof time.Thetransformingpowerofnatureworkedits magiconusboth."
Mr. Theriault has provided an insightful behind-the-scenes look at two of Canada's long serving prime ministers. "Trespassing in God's Country" in its entirety is a great read. Russ Bannock, the former president of de Havilland Aircraft of Canada noted that it is a "magnificent story of his (Mr. Theriault's} life as a Canadian pilot.
MythankstoGeorgeTheriaultandhisson Johnformakingacopyavailabletome.
SHOP LOCALLY BUYCANADIAN
George Theriault in retirement 2014 (John Theriaultcollection)
GeorgeTheriaultasRCAFofficerduringWorldWarII(John Theriaultcollection)
CHAPLEAU EXPRESS,April24,2025-Page4
CouncilBriefs
Cont’dfromP.2
RESOLUTION04-50:
P.BERNIER–A.LAMBRUSCHINI
7.2 NOHFC Interns for Community Development
THATtheCounciloftheCorporationofthe TownshipofChapleaudoesherebyapprovethe hiringoftwointernsonacontractbasisthrough theNOHFCgrant;
ANDTHATCouncildoesapprovethepurchase of two laptop computers for the two new positions; AND FURTHERMORE, THAT Council requests regular updates from the Chapleau RegionalDevelopmentCorporationonthestatus oftheinitiatives. Carried.
RESOLUTION04-51:
C.ANSARA–L.BERNIER
7.3 PaperlessBillingUpdate
THAT the Council of the Township of Chapleau does hereby accept the Report: PaperlessBillingUpdateforinformation; AND THAT Council does support the Staffinitiativetocontinuetoworkwithresidents to transition all ratepayers over to paperless billing.
AND FURTHERMORE, THAT Council requests that Staff provide an update to Council in six months on the continual transitioningovertopaperlessbilling. Carried.
RESOLUTION04-52:
P.BERNIER–A.LAMBRUSCHINI
7.4 Annual Health and Safety Policy Endorsement
THATtheCounciloftheTownshipofChapleau does hereby approve the Annual Health and SafetyPolicyEndorsement;
AND THAT Council asks for the Policy to be postedinallmunicipalbuildings. Carried.
RESOLUTION04-53:
L.BERNIER–C.ANSARA
7.5 Annual Workplace Violence and WorkplaceSafetyPolicyEndorsement
THATtheCounciloftheTownshipofChapleau does hereby approve the Annual Workplace Violence and Workplace Safety Policy Endorsement;
AND THAT Council asks for the Policy to be postedinallmunicipalbuildings. Carried.
RESOLUTION04-54:
C.ANSARA–A.LAMBRUSCHINI
7.6 AMOConference2025Addition
THATtheCounciloftheTownshipofChapleau does hereby recognize that Councillor Paul
Bernier has requested attending the AMO Conference to be held in Ottawa onAugust 1720,2025;
AND THAT Council approves Councillor Paul Bernier’sattendanceattheConference. Carried.
RESOLUTION04-55:
A.LAMBRUSCHINI–P.BERNIER
7.7 2025BridgeInspection
THATtheCounciloftheTownshipofChapleau doesherebyacceptthereportbyCAOMeyntzon the awarding of the 2025 Biennial Bridge Inspectionsforinformation;
AND THAT Council does accept the recommendationtohireTullochtocompletethe workfor2025.
RESOLUTION04-56:
L.BERNIER–C.ANSARA
7.8 WorldAutismDayProclamation Carried.
THATtheCounciloftheTownshipofChapleau does hereby approve the request of Autism Ontario to ProclamationApril 2, 2025 as World AutismDay;
ANDTHATCouncilrequestsstafftoorderaflag tobeflownattheCivicCentrerecognizingWorld AutismDay. Carried.
RESOLUTION04-57:
C.ANSARA–P.BERNIER
7.9 Paul Martel – Wildwood Bible Camp Request
THAT the Council of the Corporation of Township of Chapleau does hereby receive the letterfromPaulMartelregardingthebookingof the Community Hall for the Wildwood Bible Campevent;
ANDTHATCouncildoesherebyapprovea50% rate reduction on the request based on the costs being necessary to cover our expenses for the Arena. Carried.
RESOLUTION04-58:
C.ANSARA–A.LAMBRUSCHINI
7.10 Maison Boreal Request to Publicize on MunicipalWebsiteCalendar
THAT the Council of the Corporation of Township of Chapleau does hereby receive the letter from Zoe Zaikos on behalf of Maison Borealforinformation; AND THAT the Council does not have enough information in order to make a reasonable decisiononthismatter;
AND FURTHERMORE, THAT Council instructsStafftoinvestigatefurtherandprovidea reportontheamountoftimeandcoststhatwillbe required for the Township to take on this initiative and the timeline for posting of messages. Carried.
RESOLUTION04-59:
P.BERNIER–L.BERNIER
7.11 Fox Lake Road Approval for Laying of InternetCable
THAT the Council of the Corporation of Township of Chapleau does hereby approve accesstoFoxLakeRoadtoVianetforthelaying ofcablealongthesideoftheroad. Carried.
RESOLUTION04-60:
A.LAMBRUSCHINI–C.ANSARA
7.12 2024 Statement of Council and Board MemberRemunerationandExpenses THAT the Council of the Corporation of Township of Chapleau does hereby approve the 2024 Statement of Council and Board Member RemunerationandExpensesaspresented. Carried.
7.13 FinancialReportingUpdate
CAO Meyntz provided a verbal explanation to the recent financial reporting update from the Treasurer,LesJones.
8. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE: RESOLUTION04-61:
L.BERNIER–A.LAMBRUSCHINI
THAT the Council of the Corporation of the Township of Chapleau does hereby receive for information the Accounts Payable listing in the amountof $636,569.29 for the period ending February 18, 2025. Carried.
9. RESOLUTIONS: RESOLUTION 0462:
L.BERNIER–A.LAMBRUSCHINI
9.1 By-law2025-13,Beingaby-lawtoenter into an Agreement with AECOM for the Engineering Costs for the Water Tank RehabilitationProjectattheWaterPlant. THATBy-lawNumber2025-13,Beingaby-law toenterintoanAgreementwithAECOMforthe Engineering Costs for the Water Tank RehabilitationProjectattheWaterPlantbereada firstandsecondtimeonthisday24thofFebruary, 2025; AND FURTHER be Read a third time, passed and properly signed and sealed this 24th day of February,2025. Carried.
RESOLUTION04-63:
C.ANSARA–A.LAMBRUSCHINI
9.2 By-law 2025-14, Being a by-law to regulate the use of Smudging on Municipal PropertiesandinMunicipalBuildings. THATBy-lawNumber2025-14,Beingaby-law to regulate the use of Smudging on Municipal Properties and in Municipal Buildings be read a firstandsecondtimeonthisday24thofFebruary, 2025;
AND FURTHER be Read a third time, passed and properly signed and sealed this 24th day of February,2025. Cont’donP.8
OntarioGovernmentandOntarioMedicalAssociationConfirm FundingIncreaseThatWillProtectProvincialHealthCare
TheOntariogovernmentandtheOntario Medical Association (OMA) have received a mediated arbitration award that increases fundingtoexpandaccesstophysicianservicesacross the province, including expanded services in ruralandnorthernOntarioandstablestaffingfor emergencydepartmentsacrosstheprovince.This funding is a result of a September 2024 arbitrationawardthatwillincreasefundingforspecific targetedhealthcareinvestments.
“Today’s strategic investments build on our government’s progress to protect Ontario healthcaretoensureeveryonehasreliableaccess to care, no matter where they live," said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. "By investing in emergency department staffing andstrengtheningruralandnorthernhealthcare, wearemakingsignificantstridestoconveniently connect Ontario families, especially those in ruralandnortherncommunities,tothecarethey need,whereandwhentheyneedit.” Thisawardincludes:
! Improvements to physician funding for emergency department agreements, including the introduction of the new Rural Emergency Medicine Coverage Investment Fund (REMCIF)toensurepeoplecanconnecttocare at emergency departments with reliable and appropriatephysicianstaffinglevelsyear-round,
especially during weekends, holidays and peak seasons in rural and northern communities, effectiveApril1,2025.
! Significant investments in the Rural and Northern Physician Group Agreement (RNPGA)primarycaremodeltohelppeoplein underservedcommunitiesconnecttoaphysician. The agreement helps recruit physicians to rural and northern communities by standardizing compensation rates for physicians, providing essential funding for physician office overhead costs and ensures emergency departments have reliable,stablestaffing.
! A new compensation model for physicians at theAll Nations Health Partners Ontario Health Team in the Kenora area that will help connect people to physician care services by recruiting and retaining physicians. The new model offers physicians simplified funding, consolidated andstreamlined physician services contracts and a newhourlyrate for emergency department coverage.
! Increased funding for an existing physician services agreement for the Sioux Lookout region that will increase physicians’compensationfortravellingandworkingmoredaysinthe community.Italsoincludesanewhourlyratefor emergency department coverage, increased compensation for specialists and funding to recruitandretainphysicianstotheregion. Through the Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the Ontario government will continue to make unprecedented investments into the health care system. Ontario’s plan to provide more connected and convenient care includes historic investments to connecteverypersontoprimarycare,thelargest expansion of medical education in more than a decade, new programs to pay for school and suppliesforfamilydoctors,andnewcommunity surgicalanddiagnosticcentres.
Lastweekssolutions
MOMENTS IN TIME
On May 8, 1886, the first-ever serving of Coca-Cola, createdbyDr.JohnPemberton,advertisedasahealth tonicandoriginallyincludingcocaleafextract,madeits debutatJacob'sPharmacyinAtlanta,Georgia.Whileit originallysoldattherateofaboutnineglassesperday, by its 50th anniversary it had become an American icon.
Préventiondelafraude:huitchosesque votrebanquenevousdemanderaitjamais
(EN) Les fraudes et les arnaques financières peuvent prendre toutes sortes de formes – message texte, courriel, appel – et, souvent, imitent les communicationsenvoyéesparvotrebanque.
Selon le Centre antifraude du Canada, l’une des fraudes financières courantes consiste à se faire passer pour un employé de banque afin d’inciter les gens à divulguer leurs renseignements bancaires ou personnels.
PeudeCanadienspeuventsevanterden’avoir jamais reçu un tel message frauduleux. Dans certains cas, il s’agit d’un message texte ou d’un courriel tout simplequi«avise»lesvictimespotentiellesdugelde leurcomptebancaireetleurdemandedesuivreunlien menant à une fausse page Web pour entrer leurs renseignements personnels afin de « déverrouiller » leurcompte.Dansd’autresscénarios,desfraudeursqui prétendenttravaillerpourunebanquetéléphonentàdes victimespotentiellespourleurdemanderdel’aideavec unefausseenquêtepourfraude.
Dansbiendescas,lebutdesfraudeursestsoit devolerlesrenseignementspersonnelsoubancairesde lavictimepouraccéderàsescomptes,soitdel’amener àfaireunvirementouàacheterdescartes-cadeauxdont l’argentfiniradanslesmauvaisespoches.
Communications légitimes envoyées par les banques:uncadrestrict
Bien que votre banque doive vous demander certains renseignements personnels pour confirmer votre identité et vous fournir des services, des règles strictes régissent ce qu’elle peut vous demander et commentelledoitprocéder.
! L’unedesmeilleuresfaçonsdevousprotéger, c’est de savoir ce qu’une banque ne ferait ou ne vous demanderait jamais, notamment :Vous appeler pour vousdemanderdesrenseignementspersonnels.
!Vousdemanderdegarderunsecretoudementir.
!Vous menacer d’annuler vos services ou vous demanderd’accéderàvotreappareilàdistance.
!Vouspresseràfairequelquechose.
!Vousdemanderdel’aideenlienavecuneenquête
!Vousdemanderd’acheterdescartes-cadeauxoudela cryptomonnaie.
!Vousdemanderdevirerdesfondsdanslecadred’une enquête.
!Vousdemanderl’accèsàvotreordinateur. Commentseprotégerdesarnaques
Suivezcesconseilssupplémentairespourvous
protégerdesfraudeurs.
Affûtez vos connaissances. Assurez-vous de connaître vos responsabilités en tant que titulaire de compte ou de carte. Votre banque vous fournit les renseignementsdontvousavezbesoinàcesujet.Jetez aussi un œil du côté du Centre antifraude du Canada pourensavoirplussurlesfraudescourantes.
Activez l’authentification à deux facteurs. Explorez les paramètres de sécurité de votre boîte de courriel, de vos comptes de médias sociaux et de vos applis bancaires, et activez l’authentification à deux facteurs lorsque c’est possible. Cette méthode renforceralasécuritédevotreidentiténumérique.
Restezaufait.Profitezdesservicesbancaires qui sont conçus pour vous aviser en cas de problème. Parexemple,grâceauserviced’alertesdefraudeTD, leur clientèle peut recevoir un message texte si le système détecte une activité suspecte sur une carte de crédit ou une carte d’accès; il suffit qu’un numéro de téléphonecellulairefigureaudossier.
tgendron@northernlightsford.ca
CHAPLEAU EXPRESS,April24,2025-Page8
CouncilBriefs
Cont’dfromP.4 Carried.
10. CORRESPONDENCE
RESOLUTION04-64:
C.ANSARA–L.BERNIER
THATtheCounciloftheTownshipofChapleau receives the Correspondence from the February 24,2025CouncilAgendawithnoitemsextracted fordiscussion. Carried.
11. INCAMERA:
Adjourn to In Camera Session RESOLUTION 04-65:
P.BERNIER–A.LAMBRUSCHINI
THAT the Corporation of the Council of the Township of Chapleau move into In Camera Session on Monday, February 24, 2025 at 6:56 p.m.forthefollowingmatters:
11.1 In Camera Session Meeting Minutes for the Regular Council Meeting of January 27, 2025.
11.2 Personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees, pursuant to Ontario Municipal Act, Section239(2)(b)
• HumanResources
ReconvenetoRegularMeeting RESOLUTION 04-66:
L.BERNIER–P.BERNIER
THATthismeetingbereconvenedtoaRegular Meetingat7:08p.m.
Matters Arising from In Camera Session RESOLUTION04-67:
C.ANSARA–P.BERNIER
11.1 In Camera Session Meeting Minutes for the Regular Council Meeting of January 27, 2025.
THATtheCounciloftheTownshipofChapleau doesherebyapprovetheIn-CameraMinutesfor January27,2025aspresented. Carried.
12. CONFIRMATORYBY-LAW RESOLUTION04-68:
L.BERNIER–C.ANSARA
THAT By-law No. 2025-15, being a confirmatory by-law for the Regular Council MeetingofMonday,February24,2025begiven a First, Second, Third and final reading and is passedasofthisdate. Carried.
13. ADJOURNMENT RESOLUTION 0469:
C.ANSARA–P.BERNIER
WHEREAS the business of the Meeting has concluded:
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT this meeting be adjourned at 7:09 p.m. until the Regular Council meeting of Monday, March 17, 2025 at 6:30 p.m. or the call of the Chair.Carried.
OntarioConnecting300,000MorePeopletoa FamilyDoctorandPrimaryCareTeamsThisYear
Today, the Ontario government launched thefirstcallforproposalstocreateandexpandupto 80 primary care teams that will connect 300,000 more people to a family doctor and primary care teamthisyear,bringingtheprovinceonestepcloser to connecting everyone in Ontario to primary care by2029.
“Through our government’s record investmentsinprimarycare,Ontariohasachieved the highest rate of access to a regular health care providerinthecountry,”saidSylviaJones,Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “To continue to buildonthisprogress,wearetakingthenextstepto connect 300,000 more people to primary care this year– bringing us one step closer to our goal of connectingeverypersonintheprovincetoprimary care.”
The province is investing $213 million to supportthefirstcallforproposalsthatwillcreateor expandupto80primarycareteams.Thisfundingis part of the more than $1.8 billion the Ontario government is investing to add 305 new primary care teams across the province, connecting two million more people to publicly funded primary carewithinfouryears.
Thisfirstcallistargetedtocommunities,by postalcode,thathavethehighestnumberofpeople not connected to primary care, averaging 8,000 people unattached per postal code. This is an important step in the government’s action plan to build a primary care system that automatically offers every person in Ontario the opportunitytohaveafamilydoctor or primary care team based on postal code no matter where they live.
This approach will attach everyone currently on the Health Care Connect waitlist (as of January1,2025)toaprimarycare teamoverthenextyear.Aspartof their application, prospective teams will have to demonstrate how they will connect the maximumnumberofpeopleliving withintheiridentifiedpostalcodes to primary care. The government expects to select and announce successfulteamsinsummer2025, aswellaslaunchasecondcallfor proposalsinSeptember2025.
To support targeted strategies to recruit and retain the workforce needed to deliver highquality care, Ontario is also investinganadditional$22million tosupportallexistingprimarycare teamstohelpthemmeetincreased operationalcostsfortheirfacilities and supplies. The province will
continue to look at additional ways teams can successfullysupport,andretain,theirworkforce.
"Together we are building a primary care system that is comprehensive, convenient, and connectedforeverysinglepersoninOntario,”said Dr.JanePhilpott.“IncommunitiesacrossOntario, your primary care team will be your entry to care, whereyouwillhaveateamofhealthprofessionals led by a family doctor or nurse practitioner to provide the care and services you need, when you needit,inatimelyway.”
Ontario’s Primary Care Action Team, led byDr.JanePhilpott,willimplementitsactionplan by building on the government’s historic investment of more than $1.8 billion to expand access to primary care and draw on best-in-class modelsofcarefromacrosstheprovincetoclosethe gap for the remaining 10 per cent of people in the province in need of primary care by 2029. Interprofessional primary care teams are made up ofafamilyphysicianornursepractitionerandother healthcareprofessionalssuchasnurses,physician assistants,socialworkers,dieticiansandmore.
Through Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the Ontario government continues to take bold and decisive actiontogrowtheprovince’shighlyskilledhealth careworkforceandensurepeopleandtheirfamilies haveaccesstohigh-qualitycareclosertohomefor generationstocome.