Ontario to Limit Medical School Spots to Local Students by 2026

The new policy aims to address the shortage of family doctors by prioritizing Ontario residents and offering tuition coverage for future practitioners.

Starting in fall 2026, 95% of medical school seats in Ontario will be reserved for provincial residents, with 5% for other Canadians.
The Ontario government plans to cover tuition costs for over 1,000 students who commit to becoming family doctors within the province.
The initiative seeks to reduce the number of Ontarians without a family doctor, currently estimated at 2.5 million.
Premier Doug Ford emphasized the importance of keeping medical graduates in Ontario to address local healthcare needs.
The province will expand its 'Learn and Stay' program, costing $88 million, to support students who pledge to practice family medicine in Ontario.