November 18, 2025 (Halton Region, ON) – The Connected Care Halton Ontario Health Team (CCHOHT) and Halton Healthcare have released a new Primary Health Care Action Plan, a co-created roadmap to strengthen and transform primary care in Halton Hills, Milton, and Oakville. The plan sets out a shared vision to ensure that every resident in the region can access the right care, when and where they need it.
Developed with input from physicians, health professionals, caregivers, and patient and family partners, the Action Plan responds to growing challenges in the Halton Region primary care system in four ways:
Connection: Ensuring every person in Halton is linked to a primary care provider through a coordinated matching process and a new network of local Health Hubs.
Access: Improving access to interprofessional care teams, including nurse practitioners, dietitians, social workers, and community paramedics, so residents can receive comprehensive care closer to home.
Integration: Establishing a Primary Care Network to engage and support local providers, improve communication, and reduce administrative burden through tools like e-referrals and shared provider databases.
Equity: Partnering with community organizations to deliver culturally safe and inclusive care, with targeted outreach for vulnerable or unattached populations.
“This plan builds on the province’s goal that every Ontarian will be connected to a primary care provider by 2029 and reflects the unique needs of Halton’s growing and diverse population,” said Zoe Dawe, Executive Director, Connected Care Halton Ontario Health Team. “It gives us a coordinated path forward for improving primary care in our region. It puts people first and connects them to the care and supports they need close to home.”
Currently over 41,000 Halton residents do not have a primary care provider, leading to gaps in care, delayed diagnoses, and increased pressure on emergency departments. The Primary Health Care Action Plan aims to close this gap by connecting every person in the region to a family doctor or nurse practitioner and by improving access to team based care that includes dietitians, social workers, and other allied health professionals.
“At Halton Healthcare we see firsthand how a strong and connected primary care system leads to better patient outcomes and smoother transitions of care," said Elma Hrapovich, Director, Community Integration & Primary Health Care, Halton Healthcare. “With this action plan, connecting providers through shared networks, and expanding programs so people can bridge the gap between hospitals, primary care.”
“This plan recognizes the pressures facing primary care providers, who are often stretched thin by heavy workloads and administrative tasks,” said Dr. Kristianna Martiniuk, Clinical Lead, Primary Care Advancement for the CCHOHT. “By connecting providers through shared networks, improving communication, and streamlining processes, they can spend less time on paperwork and more time where it matters most - with patients.”
With this Plan, Halton Healthcare and CCHOHT are taking the lead on enhancing primary care in the Region, in alignment with the provincial government's Primary Care Action Plan, and will implement the program in partnership with local providers, community organizations, and with provincial partners. Progress will be monitored and reported annually.
To view the full report visit: www.connectedcarehalton.ca