The Ontario government is expanding medical school education. Premier Doug Ford said Ontario is adding 160 undergraduate seats and 295 postgraduate positions over the next five years.
He said, “We’ve already shored up domestic production of critical supplies like PPE and have added thousands more hospital beds. Now, building on our work to recruit and retain nurses and personal support workers, we’re launching the largest expansion of medical education in ten years.”
He added, , "it will create more spaces at all six medical schools across the province, further delivering on our promise to bring high quality health care to all parts of Ontario."
"With this investment, we're supporting more students to take the path to becoming a doctor, and creating the family doctors and specialists who will take care of us in the years to come," he explained.
This expansion will support all six medical schools across Ontario, including the University of Toronto’s new Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health, the Queen’s-Lakeridge Health Campus, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Western University, McMaster University and the University of Ottawa. Medical seats will also be allotted to the new Ryerson School of Medicine in Brampton when it becomes operational.
“Ontario’s health care professionals are some of the finest practitioners in the world and that is a testament to the education they receive through Ontario’s universities and colleges,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities. “This expansion will increase access to family and specialty physicians and other health care professionals in every corner of the province to ensure that Ontarians can access the health care they need, when they need it, wherever they may live.”
Expanded undergraduate and postgraduate medical school positions will be allocated as follows:
Ryerson University will receive 80 undergraduate seats and 95 postgraduate positions University of Toronto will receive 30 undergraduate seats and 45 postgraduate positions Northern Ontario School of Medicine will receive 30 undergraduate seats, and 41 postgraduate positions Queen’s University will receive 20 undergraduate seats and 30 postgraduate positions Western University, McMaster University and University of Ottawa will each receive 28 postgraduate positions.
“Ontario's doctors are key partners of a strong and sustainable health care system,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Supporting more students to become physicians is a key part of our plan to build up our health care workforce and ensure patients can access the care they need no matter where they live.”