Message from MPP Jill Dunlop/Springwater News – August 2025
As we soak up the final weeks of summer, it’s my pleasure to update you on some of the ways our government is continuing to strengthen and support communities across the province.
As part of our ongoing support for older adults, Ontario is investing $112,668 in seven community projects across Simcoe North through the Seniors Community Grant Program. This funding will support local initiatives that help seniors live independently, reduce social isolation, and build stronger connections in their communities. Recipients included are the Coldwater & District Curling Club, Town of Penetanguishene Community Garden, Orillia Lawn Bowling Club, Chippewas of Rama First Nation-Active Aging Recreation, Township of Tiny- Nature Connect, Township of Ramara-Seniors Social, and the City of Orillia Walkability Project.
Additionally, Ontario is also investing $35 million to help long-term care homes, through the Local Priorities Fund, providing better support for residents with complex needs providing the homes with access to the tools, training, and programs necessary to deliver more personalized care, ensuring seniors can live safely and comfortably close to home.
Our government has also launched the Rural Ontario Development (ROD) program, previously the Rural Economic Development program, with a $20 million investment over the next two years. The ROD program aims to attract new investment, create good jobs, and expand opportunities for local workers, helping rural Ontario communities flourish supporting the objectives of Enabling Opportunity: Ontario’s Rural Economic Development Strategy. Information sessions are currently being offered in August and September. Please contact my office to find out eligibility and how to apply.
From supporting seniors to building rural prosperity, I remain committed to ensuring that communities across Simcoe North continue to thrive, and as summer winds down, I hope you and your family enjoy the remaining days at community events, celebrations, and all that our beautiful Simcoe North region has to offer!
Ontario Connecting 1725 More People to Primary Care in Barrie
$1,691,100 investment brings the province one step closer to connecting everyone in Ontario to primary care by 2029.
By Office of Doug Downey, MPP, July 9, 2025
BARRIE— As part of its $2.1 billion Primary Care Action Plan to connect everyone in Ontario to a publicly funded family doctor or primary care team, the Ontario Government is investing $1,691,100 this year to connect up to 1725 people to primary care in Barrie. This investment is part of the government’s Primary Care Action Plan that will help connect 300,000 people to primary care this year.
Through Mamaway Wiidokdaadwin, the Barrie Area Native Advisory Circle (BANAC) is expanding its services to increase access to culturally grounded health care for Indigenous communities in the region. Building on its strong foundation at the existing Barrie site, the expansion will improve access for clients who currently travel significant distances for care. The expanded model leverages the full scope of clinical and allied health staff to provide efficient and sustainable intake and attachment processes, as well as ongoing primary care. New services will prioritize coordinated care between Traditional Practitioners and the full scope of primary care services.
“This expansion of services will help to ensure that all Ontarians, no matter where they live, will be able to receive world-class healthcare whenever they need it,” said Doug Downey, MPP for Barrie – Springwater – Oro-Medonte. “Expanding access to care helps to remove stressors that can often impact wellbeing, and allows patients to access care in their home communities. I am grateful for the continued partnership between the province and the Mamaway Wiidokdadwin team to provide these services.”
The Barrie Native Advisory Circle was funded through a recent call for proposals focused on communities—identified by postal code—with the highest number of residents not connected to primary care, including those on the Health Care Connect waitlist. Each successful team has established a plan to attach a high proportion of unattached people in their postal codes and demonstrated readiness to achieve significant progress within a year.
“This expansion reflects our deep commitment to Indigenous health in Indigenous hands. The Barrie Area Native Advisory Circle brings together traditional healing and holistic primary care in a way that honours our wellness journey,” said Lynn Monague-Sauvé, President of the BANAC Board of Directors. “This expansion means more Indigenous patients will be attached to primary care which supports individuals, family and the community as a whole.”
This investment is part of the more than $2.1 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.
“We are continuing to build on our government’s record investments, which have helped secure Ontario the highest rate of access to a regular health-care provider in the country,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “We are protecting Ontario’s health-care system and people’s access to convenient care by funding new and expanded primary care teams across the province, helping connect everyone in Ontario to a primary care provider.”
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.
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.
Eligible teams not selected for funding in this round will be encouraged to refine and resubmit their proposals for the next call for proposals, which is expected to launch in September 2025.
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.
In 2024, Ontario invested $110 million in primary care teams across the province, helping to connect 328,000 more people to primary care close to home.
$20M Boost for Simcoe North: Province Funds Seniors’ Programs and Rural Growth
By Office of MPP Jill Dunlop, July 14, 2025
As we soak up the final weeks of summer, it’s my pleasure to update you on some of the ways our government is continuing to strengthen and support communities across the province.
As part of our government’s ongoing support for older adults, I’m pleased to share that the Ontario government is investing $112,668 in seven community projects across Simcoe North through the Seniors Community Grant Program (SCGP). This funding will support local initiatives that help seniors live independently, reduce social isolation, and build stronger connections in their communities.
These community-based initiatives complement our government’s broader commitment to seniors’ well-being. We are also investing $35 million to help long-term care homes provide better support for residents with complex needs. Through the Local Priorities Fund, homes will have access to the tools, training, and programs necessary to deliver more personalized care, ensuring seniors can live safely and comfortably close to home.
These community-based initiatives are part of a larger effort to strengthen our region’s economy and support rural towns. To that end, our government has launched the Rural Ontario Development (ROD) program. With a $20 million investment over the next two years, this program aims to attract new investment, create good jobs, and expand opportunities for local workers—helping rural Ontario communities flourish.
From supporting seniors to building rural prosperity, I remain committed to ensuring that communities across Simcoe North continue to thrive. I’m very proud to represent Simcoe North and advocate for the needs of our region.
As summer winds down, I hope you and your family enjoy the remaining days with community events, celebrations, and all that our beautiful Simcoe North region has to offer!
Doug Shipley Reflects on Summer, Celebrates Graduates, and Invites Community Connection
By Office of Doug Shipley, MP,
With summer in full swing, I am looking forward to spending more time in Barrie—Springwater—Oro-Medonte connecting with residents at community events and milestone celebrations. As important as the time spent in Ottawa is to my position as Member of Parliament there is so much value in being here at home, meeting with community groups and hearing feedback from constituents and the many organizations serving our communities.
The end of the school year brings many changes for local students. Even if it is just the excitement of a seemingly endless stretch of summer days in their immediate future. Some students may be looking forward to a new grade and new teacher in September. Others might be preparing for high school or starting their first summer job. And for our high school graduates, this summer may lead to big changes as they embark on the next great adventure life has in store for them. We prepared hundreds of congratulatory certificates for this year’s group of graduates, to all the graduates in our surrounding communities, and their proud family members, I say congratulations and best wishes to each of you on your future path.
A quote comes to mind at this time each year and it is sound advice for any of us, whether pursuing a career in service or trades or carrying on with post-secondary studies, it is great life advice.
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain
While times of change can be exciting, they can also raise questions, and often we just don’t know where to start looking for answers. That is where my staff and I can help. My dedicated and knowledgeable constituency team might not have the answer to every question you have about government services and resources, but often they know where to look, or who might be best suited to help you. No matter what the season we are always here and ready to help.
I love to hear from constituents, whether you have questions about a federal matter, or would like to share information about an upcoming community event, or a milestone celebration, I want to hear from you. You can contact me by emailing: Doug.Shipley@parl.gc.ca or contact my team by calling 705-728-2596.
I wish each of you a safe and happy summer.
Sincerely,
Doug Shipley, Member of Parliament
Barrie – Springwater – Oro-Medonte