Both Oshawa and Clarington are taking steps to incentivize and attract more doctors to meet the growing demand for family physicians in the region.
Oshawa Council has unanimously agreed to the Family Doctor Incentives to try to attract more family doctors, according to Councillor Brian Nicholson.
Meanwhile, a Clarington statement said since launching in late 2025, its Physician Recruitment Program has attracted four new family doctors in Courtice and Bowmanville; each committed to rostering at least 1,000 patients over the next five years with more on the way.
The Oshawa councillor pointed out that in a perfect world, the province would fund the training and hiring of enough family doctors to meet the needs of the entire province but they do not.
He thanked Oshawa Council for “setting aside our frustration with the lack of support from the province and choosing to put the needs of our residents above partisan politics or finger point.”
Reducing Practice Set-up Costs
Clarington pointed out that starting a medical practice comes with significant costs. Its Physician Recruitment Program helps ease those pressures by matching municipal funds with contributions from participating clinics; making Clarington a more attractive place for physicians to live and work. The program aims to reduce wait times, expand access to family medicine, and strengthen local healthcare by bringing more doctors to the area, said a municipal statement.
Under the Physician Recruitment Program, each participating doctor receives $50,000 in support, made up of a $25,000 municipal contribution and a matching $25,000 from local clinics. Clinics can contribute through funding or in-kind support such as reduced rent, administrative assistance, discounted overheads, or electronic medical records software. In return, physicians commit to practising in Clarington for at least five years and must roster a minimum of 1,000 patients within three years. If a physician leaves early, a prorated portion of the municipal contribution must be repaid.
East Durham Family Health Team
Clarington’s long‑term health and well-being is further supported by the province’s recent announcement of the new East Durham Family Health Team, which will help connect more than 7,600 residents in Clarington and East Durham to primary care. Together, provincial investments and Clarington’s Physician Recruitment Program are expanding access to family doctors and strengthening the local healthcare system.
“Our families, friends, and neighbours deserve reliable access to family doctors close to home. By giving meaningful support to physicians just starting out in Clarington, we’re helping them focus on what matters most: caring for their patients. When we put real investment into local health care, life gets better for our community,” said Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster.