Ontario sets primary care goals and reporting

Summary#

Bill 13, the Primary Care Act, 2025, sets out Ontario’s vision and goals for primary care. It does not create new programs on its own. Instead, it defines what people should expect from primary care and requires the government to report each year on progress.

• States that every insured person (someone covered by Ontario’s public health plan) should have the chance to build an ongoing relationship with a primary care clinician or team.
• Aims for care that is timely, connected to other health and social services, inclusive, and barrier‑free.
• Encourages digital access so people can view their own health information and connect with their care team.
• Requires the Minister of Health to publish an annual public report, including the share of people who have an ongoing primary care provider or team.
• Lets the government set more details by regulation, including performance indicators.
• Says the Act does not create a legal right to sue, and government decisions remain valid even if the Act is not followed.

What it means for you#

• Patients and families

  • You should see a clearer government goal: everyone should be able to have a regular primary care provider or team.
  • The government must report each year on how many people have this ongoing relationship and how the system is doing.
  • The vision includes faster access, better coordination with hospitals and community services, and easier digital access to your health records.
  • This law does not guarantee a family doctor or clinic for you right away, and it does not create a right to take legal action if goals are not met.

• People in underserved or diverse communities

  • The goals stress inclusive, barrier‑free care and respect for human rights, including for French‑speaking and Indigenous communities.
  • The system is expected to respond to community needs and share information about performance.

• Health care providers and teams

  • Signals support for team‑based primary care and digital integration.
  • You may face new reporting metrics set by regulation and will be part of province‑wide progress tracking.
  • No new duties are directly imposed by the Act itself.

• General public

  • You can expect a public annual report that tracks access to primary care and other measures the government may add later.
  • Government policies remain valid even if parts of this Act are not followed, and the Act does not create private legal duties.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• Sets a clear, province‑wide vision for primary care, so people know what to expect.
• Creates transparency and accountability through required annual public reporting.
• Promotes team‑based care and coordination with social services, which can improve outcomes and reduce pressure on hospitals.
• Encourages digital access to personal health information, making care more convenient and connected.
• Focuses on equity and barrier‑free access for diverse communities.

Opponents' View#

• Largely symbolic: sets goals but does not fund new services or require specific actions or timelines.
• Lacks enforceable rights; the Act says people cannot sue based on it, and decisions stand even if the Act is not followed.
• May add reporting without guaranteeing changes patients will feel in the near term.
• Leaves key details to future regulations, so impact depends on later government decisions.