Ontario Expanding Access to Primary Care in Renfrew County

NationTalk: PIKWÀKANAGÀN — The Ontario government is investing up to $3.9 million to support the construction of a new, permanent primary care clinic for the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn Indigenous Primary Health Care Organization (IPCHO), to make it easier and faster for more people to access the care they need, in their community.

“Our government is taking action and making record investments to ensure everyone who wants a primary care provider can connect to one, no matter where they live,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “While there is more work to do, a new site for the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn Indigenous Primary Health Care Organization will give thousands more people the opportunity to connect to care, close to home, for years to come.”

Located on the Pikwàkanagàn Reserve on Golden Lake and Bonnechere River in Renfrew County, the IPCHO’s new site will add more accessible space for care, connecting over 1000 people to primary care with improved access to community-based, responsive services, including:

Primary care
Walk – in clinic services
Referrals to specialists
Lab services
Prenatal and postnatal assessment and care
Health promotion and chronic disease management

Pikwàkanagàn IPHCO is also partnering with Algonquin College and the University of Ottawa to offer clinical placements for Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, and Registered Practical Nurses. Practical training gives students crucial real-world experience to develop critical skills and understand patient care dynamics. Students who complete clinical placements are also more likely to return for employment opportunities or practice in similar settings, creating a pipeline of healthcare workers to support local primary care teams for years to come.

“This is wonderful news for the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn, access to primary health care is a top priority for our government,” said John Yakabuski, MPP for Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke. “This nearly 4 million dollars investment for the construction of a permanent site will deliver on our commitment to the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn to improve access for their citizens to primary health care.”

As a next step, the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn IPCHO is working to secure a construction partner. Once a successful bidder has been selected, construction is expected to begin by spring 2025.

Through Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the Ontario government has been making steady progress to connect everyone to high quality primary care where and when they need it by closing the remaining 10 per cent gap of people who do not have a regular healthcare provider.

Quick Facts

The Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn is an Indigenous Primary Health Care Organization, a type of interprofessional primary care team composed of physicians, nurse practitioners and nurses working together under one roof to deliver to deliver primary care.
Interprofessional primary care teams support managing day-to-day health while relieving pressures on emergency departments and walk-in clinics.
There are 25 Indigenous Primary Health Care Organizations (IPHCOs) across Ontario to address the physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental well-being of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples and communities being served in a culturally appropriate manner.
The Ontario government is investing $110 million to expand access to interprofessional primary care teams connecting 328,000 more people to primary care. This includes over 73,000 more people in Eastern Ontario.
Starting in 2026, the government is investing an estimated $88 million over three years to expand Learn and Stay grants for 1,360 eligible undergraduate students that commit to practice family medicine with a full roster of patients once they graduate. This will connect an additional 1.36 million people to primary care based on average attachment rates for family doctors.
Ontario is investing up to $1 million in 2024-25 to expand the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council’s (IPHCC) Indigenous Cultural Safety Program to deliver more cultural training sessions to health care organizations so they can better understand the specific needs of connect First Nations, Métis, Inuit and urban Indigenous communities across the province.
As part of the 2024 Ontario Budget, through an additional $546 million over three years, the province is creating new and expanded primary care teams to connect approximately 600,000 people to team-based primary care.

Quotes

“Building a permanent primary care clinic for the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn marks a pivotal step in ensuring culturally appropriate care is available when and where patients need it. Indigenous families can feel confident knowing that healthcare is close to home, providing improved health outcomes and greater peace of mind. Today’s investment reflects our commitment to delivering high-quality care that honours traditions, respects cultural needs, and supports the well-being of Indigenous peoples.”
– Greg Rickford
Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation

“The Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn are grateful for the continued efforts of the provincial government to recognize the health care needs and commitment to the well-being of our First Nation. The new construction of the Indigenous Primary Health Care Organization facility will provide larger space improving accessibility for our patients. This new facility will further enhance functionality for our primary health care team and collaboration with visiting health care professionals and medical/health students. We extend acknowledgement to the Health Services Management and clinical team, Ministry of Health staff and Critchley Hill Architect.”
– Chief Greg Sarazin
Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn First Nation

Additional Resources