Orillia City Council has approved funding of $500,000 to the Orillia & Lake Country Physician Recruitment Committee to enhance physician recruitment efforts in Orillia.
The decision at the March 24, 2025, meeting of Council, follows extensive research by the City-Operated Medical Clinic Working Group, which recommended that supporting physician recruitment initiatives is the most effective way to address the community’s primary healthcare needs.
“With a significant portion of our population in need of primary care and many existing physicians nearing retirement, Orillia must take proactive steps to ensure long-term healthcare stability,” said Mayor Don McIsaac. “This funding will directly support efforts to attract and retain family physicians, making Orillia a more competitive and desirable place for healthcare professionals.”
The $500,000 was originally approved by Council in January 2025 when establishing the City-Operated Medical Clinic Working Group to explore solutions for addressing Orillia’s physician shortage. Members of the working group included City Council members, along with representatives from the Couchiching Ontario Health Team, Orillia & Lake Country Physician Recruitment, and various medical professionals.
Over the past several months, the City-Operated Medical Clinic Working Group explored various strategies, including establishing a municipally operated medical clinic, retrofitting existing City-owned space for a medical practice, and providing direct financial incentives to physicians. However, after consulting with industry experts and assessing feasibility, the group concluded that funding dedicated towards physician recruitment efforts would yield the greatest impact at this time.
“This investment will have a direct impact on our community by helping us recruit and retain the physicians we desperately need,” said Marino Fernandopulle, Chair of the Orillia & Lake Country Physician Recruitment Committee. “We look forward to developing a comprehensive business plan on how we can best utilize these funds to stay competitive and provide support to incoming physicians. This includes, but is certainly not limited to, enhancing our current recruitment strategies, providing incentives when appropriate, and strengthening partnerships with medical schools and healthcare networks to attract new doctors to Orillia. This will improve healthcare accessibility for residents and ensure long-term stability in our local medical services.”
Under the approved motion, the Orillia & Lake Country Physician Recruitment Committee will be required to submit a comprehensive business plan to Council outlining how the funds will be utilized, with the first installment of funding released upon submission. The organization will also provide quarterly progress reports detailing expenditures and measurable recruitment outcomes.
This strategic investment comes at a critical time, as Orillia faces a growing need for primary care providers. The region currently requires an estimated 15-17 additional family physicians, and 21 per cent of existing primary care doctors are nearing retirement. Supporting physician recruitment efforts ensures that Orillia remains a competitive and attractive destination for healthcare professionals, ultimately improving access to care for residents.
The City-operated Medical Clinic Working Group will continue to explore various strategies to attract primary care physicians to Orillia and will report back to Council.
