In total, 26 new doctors came to Niagara Region, while 10 either left or retired.
Municipalities across Niagara had a net increase of 16 family doctors in 2024, according to Niagara Region.
In a news release made public by the Region late last week, staff noted that 26 new doctors came to Niagara Region in 2024, while 10 either left or retired.
Because of those 16 extra net doctors, more than 15,000 additional Niagara Region residents now have access to primary care.
The gains were concentrated in St. Catharines, where eight net new physicians were added, as well as Welland, which saw a net gain of six. Those gains have led to roughly 5,900 new patients being covered in St. Catharines and just over 8,000 in Welland.
Regional Chair Jim Bradley highlighted the Region’s recruitment efforts in recent years and pointed to those efforts in touting the success of recruiting more primary care physicians.
“Timely access to a family doctor is a necessity for a healthy and thriving community, and I am pleased to see the progress Niagara has made in bringing new physicians to the region,” said Bradley.
“Thanks to the ongoing collaboration and joint efforts of the Region, the area municipalities, our health care system and many other partners, more and more family doctors are choosing Niagara as the place to set up practice, and I look forward to seeing continued success in this regard over the coming year.”
George Spezza, Director of Economic Development for Niagara Region, also released a statement.
“Attracting and retaining family physicians is a priority for Niagara Region, and this growth is a key step toward strengthening our community,” said Spezza. “By ensuring access to primary care, we are helping create a healthier, more vibrant region where residents and businesses can thrive.”
Staff are not resting on their laurels. In November of last year, the Region hosted a community roundtable that brought together 35 community leaders and experts to explore ways to attract even more family physicians to Niagara Region.
Results from the roundtable were shared with Council at a March 20 meeting of the committee of the whole.
Council and staff plan to use the results of the roundtable to create a new Physician Recruitment Strategy for all of Niagara.
Those readers who are still looking for a family doctor can use this link from Niagara Region to help find primary care.
Jay Goldberg is the Ontario Director at the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. He previously served as a policy fellow at the Munk School of Public Policy and Global Affairs. Jay holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Toronto.
