MPP Lecce Connects Up to 13,000 Local Residents to Primary Care

VAUGHAN — Today, Stephen Lecce, MPP for King—Vaughan, announced a $4.4 million investment in the Mackenzie Health Academic Family Health Team to connect up to 13,099 Vaughan, King and Richmond Hill residents to primary care as part of the provincial government’s $3.4 billion Primary Care Action Plan that will connect every Ontarian to a publicly funded primary care or family physician over the next three years. Pending successful accreditation, students at the York University School of Medicine will receive hands-on clinical experience as they contribute to family health teams upon the commencement of enrollment.

“Over the next three years, we will connect every Ontarian to a publicly funded family physician or primary care team, and this new Mackenzie Health Academic Family Health Team, which will serve up to 13,000 residents, is bringing us one step closer to that goal,” said Stephen Lecce, MPP for King—Vaughan. “Just this past fall, I announced that up to 5,000 residents will be connected to primary care at the Vaughan Community Health Centre. This new family health team we are announcing will join the Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, new long-term care bed capacity, and the York University School of Medicine—all to make good on our promise to deliver Better Healthcare, Closer to Home.”

MPP Stephen Lecce delivered $4.4 million to the Mackenzie Health Academic Family Health Team to provide team-based primary care services for unattached residents living in Vaughan, King, Richmond Hill and the surrounding areas. The funding supports access to primary care services for those on the Health Care Connect waitlist and underserved communities.

"The Mackenzie Health Academic Family Health Team is an important step forward toward a truly connected health care ecosystem in western York Region, where family doctors, hospitals, community organizations and educators work together around the needs of our residents,” said Carmine Stumpo, President and CEO, Mackenzie Health. “We know that health is shaped by more than medical care alone. By strengthening connections to services that also support their mental health, nutrition, housing, overall well-being and more, we can improve access to care, support better health outcomes and help build healthier communities for years to come."

The Mackenzie Health Academic Family Health Team was funded through the latest call for proposals under the Primary Care Action Plan, with all 124 teams receiving funding expected to connect another 500,000 patients to primary care across Ontario. Each team has established a plan to attach a high proportion of unattached people in their community, including those on the Health Care Connect waitlist.

“As a family physician, I've seen firsthand the difference it makes when people have a family doctor and a team of health professionals supporting them,” said Dr. Loredana Di Santo, Chief of Family Practice, Mackenzie Health and Primary Care Lead, Western York Region Ontario Health Team. “When patients can access care early and stay connected to the services and supports they need, they're better able to manage their health and address concerns before they become more serious. Through the Mackenzie Health Academic Family Health Team, we’re creating a more seamless experience where patients and families feel supported throughout their health journey and never have to navigate the system alone."

Since the launch of the government’s $3.4 billion Primary Care Action Plan, Ontario has already attached over 330,000 people to ongoing primary care, surpassing the province’s 2025-26 attachment goal of 300,000. This puts the province firmly on track to connect every Ontarian to a primary care provider by 2029.

“Through our Primary Care Action Plan, we are connecting more people to care and have already exceeded our 2025-26 attachment target,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “By connecting more families to care in Vaughan, King, and Richmond Hill, our government is taking the next step toward connecting everyone in the province to primary care by 2029.”

This past fall, MPP Lecce announced a $2.6 million investment in the Vaughan Community Health Centre, in partnership with the Mount Sinai Academic Family Health Team, to connect up to 5,000 Maple and Vaughan residents to primary care.

Through the 2026 Budget, the province is also increasing overall funding for the plan to a total of $3.4 billion between 2025 and 2029.

“This investment marks an important step forward in ensuring more people across Vaughan and beyond have access to the primary care they need, when they need it,” said Steven Del Duca, Mayor, City of Vaughan. “I want to express my sincere thanks to MPP Stephen Lecce and the Government of Ontario for their leadership and commitment to expanding access to team-based care in our community. As home to Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital and the Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct, Vaughan is emerging as a world-class destination for healthcare and healthcare innovation, and this investment further strengthens that vision.”

Last year, MPP Lecce unveiled the new sign at the site of the future School of Medicine building next to the Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital in the Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct. The York University School of Medicine, currently undergoing accreditation, aims to be the first medical school in Ontario dedicated to graduating family physicians.

“Together, we are building a primary care system that is comprehensive, convenient and connected - one that serves every person in Ontario,” said Dr. Jane Philpott, Chair of Ontario’s Primary Care Action Team. “Through the government’s historic investments in primary care teams, including the Mackenzie Health Academic Family Health Team, we are making real progress in expanding access to primary care and connecting every person in Ontario to a family doctor, nurse practitioner or primary care team.”

The province has also exceeded its 2025-2026 attachment goal under the Primary Care Action Plan, which was to connect 300,000 patients to a primary care provider by March 31, 2026. As of January 1, 2026, the province has already attached 330,000 people to care in 2025-2026, surpassing its goal by more than 30,000.

“This investment represents exactly the kind of partnership that the York University School of Medicine is being built to support — one that connects people to primary care, strengthens community-based health services, and creates meaningful learning opportunities for future physicians,” said Dr. David Peters, Dean, School of Medicine, York University. “Working with Mackenzie Health and our regional partners, we have an opportunity to improve access to care today, and continuously learn how to deliver better and more coordinated care while educating the physicians and interprofessional teams our communities will need for the future.”

This investment is part of the more than $3.4 billion the Ontario government is investing to support the Primary Care Action Plan that will add over 300 new primary care teams across the province. This includes $235 million in 2025-26 that in part is supporting over 130 new and expanded primary care teams across the province.

"For more than 62 years, Mackenzie Health has been a cornerstone of our community, delivering exceptional care to the residents of Richmond Hill and beyond. We are grateful to the Province of Ontario for this continued investment in local healthcare,” said Mayor David West, City of Richmond Hill. “Expanding access to primary care will help ease pressure on our healthcare system, including walk-in clinics and emergency departments, while ensuring more residents can receive the care they need, when they need it. Providing primary healthcare access for more than 13,000 York Region residents is a significant step forward and consistent with the high-quality, accessible healthcare our community expects and deserves."

Through Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the Ontario government continues to take bold and decisive action to grow the province’s highly skilled health care workforce and ensure people and their families have access to high-quality care closer to home for generations to come.

“This investment in the Mackenzie Health Academic Family Health Team is a tremendous step forward for our community,” said Steve Pellegrini, Mayor of the Township of King. “By expanding access to primary care, we are ensuring that thousands of residents in King and the surrounding areas will have the support they need to stay healthy and thrive. I am proud to see our community benefit from this partnership between the provincial government, Mackenzie Health and York University School of Medicine. Together, we are building a stronger, healthier future for everyone in King.”

Quick Facts

• Interprofessional primary care teams connect people to a range of health professionals that work together under one roof, including registered and registered practical nurses, physiotherapists, social workers, and pharmacists, helping patients to receive more connected and convenient care.

• Ontario’s Primary Care Action Team, led by Dr. Jane Philpott, will implement its action plan supported by the government’s historic investment of more than $2.1 billion to connect approximately two million more people to a family physician or primary care team by 2029, which will achieve the government’s goal of connecting everyone in the province to primary care.

• The Ontario Government recently passed the Primary Care Act, 2025., which establishes primary care as the foundation of Ontario’s health-care system and sets out six clear objectives for Ontario’s publicly funded primary care system to ensure people know what they can expect when connecting to primary care.

• According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, Ontario leads the country with access to a regular health-care provider.

• Ontario is taking significant steps to strengthen its health-care workforce by making it easier for U.S.-licensed nurses and board-certified physicians to move to and practise in Ontario. So far this year, nearly 1,400 nurses and more than 260 doctors have already chosen Ontario.

• Ontario’s Primary Care Action Team is drawing on best-in-class models of care to implement its action plan, supported by the government’s investment of more than $3.4 billion to connect approximately two million more people to primary care by 2029, which will achieve the government’s goal of connecting everyone in the province to primary care.

• Since 2018, Ontario has added nearly 20,000 additional physicians to its health-care workforce, including an over 14 per cent increase in family doctors.

  
  

Quotes

"Today's announcement of the new Mackenzie Health Academic Family Health Team is the latest in a series of investments our government is making to strengthen primary care in Ontario. In May, I was proud to announce the new Thornhill Community Health Centre at the Promenade Mall, where our government is providing $1,901,200 to connect up to 4397 people to primary care in Thornhill. Together, these investments are part of our plan to connect everyone in the province to primary care by 2029."

—Laura Smith, MPP for Thornhill

“The $4.4 million investment in the Mackenzie Health Family Health Team is connecting up to 13,000 residents across Vaughan, King and Richmond Hill to a publicly funded family physician or primary care team. As part of the Primary Care Action Plan, this funding brings the province closer to the goal of ensuring every Ontarian is connected to primary care over the next three years.”

—Michael Parsa, MPP for Aurora—Oak Ridges—Richmond Hill

"Expanding access to primary care means more families in Vaughan—Woodbridge will receive the timely, high-quality healthcare they deserve, closer to home. This investment in the Mackenzie Health Academic Family Health Team will help connect thousands of local residents with essential care while strengthening our healthcare system for future generations. I am proud to support initiatives that improve access, build capacity, create new opportunities to train the next generation of family physicians."

—Michael Tibollo, MPP for Vaughan—Woodbridge

"This significant investment in health services means more residents can access the quality care they need, closer to home. Supporting the Mackenzie Health Academic Family Health Team will strengthen local care while training the next generation of hardworking medical practitioners. I applaud our government's expansion of team-based primary care in our region, connecting thousands more to health care they can count on."

—Daisy Wai, MPP for Richmond Hill

Additional Resources

• 2026 Ontario Budget | Table of Contents

• Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care | ontario.ca

MEDIA CONTACT                                                                                              

Stephen Lecce, MPP for King—Vaughan

Constituency Office

Tel.: 647-560-9700        

Email: Stephen.Lecce@pc.ola.org