CFPC Advocacy Day 2026: Fulfill federal support commitments to attach more Canadians to a family doctor

2026-10-07

(Mississauga, ON) On October 5th and 6th, representatives from the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) were on Parliament Hill calling on the federal government to follow through on its commitments to strengthen family medicine, unlocking the country’s economic potential, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of Canada’s health care system.

Led by Dr. Sarah Cook (President), Dr. Carrie Bernard (Past President), Dr. Sarah Funnell (President-Elect), and Dr. Michael Allan (Chief Executive Officer), the CFPC delegation met with 22 parliamentarians across major parties over two days of advocacy in Ottawa.

The CFPC welcomed Minister of Health Marjorie Michel and the Parliamentary Secretary Maggie Chi to Restore Medical Clinic for a first-hand look at a front-line family practice. The visit showcased the breadth of care family physicians provide, their role in prevention, and continuity of care. It also highlighted pressures facing family practices and opportunities for federal leadership in solving these challenges.

At a time of economic uncertainty, the CFPC emphasized that strengthening family medicine is not about new spending for the federal government. It is about following through on existing commitments.

The CFPC emphasized four practical actions:

• Cut red tape by funding AI scribe adoption for all family doctors and continuing to simplify burdensome federal forms such as the Disability Tax Credit.
• Help family doctors open their doors by delivering the federal government’s promised $300 million New Practice Fund.
• Build the infrastructure needed to train more family doctors by using the $5 billion Health Infrastructure Fund to strengthen community-based family medicine education and training.
• Modernize Canada’s digital health infrastructure by passing Bill S-5 and supporting family practices in implementing interoperable health information systems.

The CFPC remains committed to working with federal, provincial, and territorial governments to strengthen Canada’s health care system. As governments move into the next phase of bilateral health agreements, the CFPC is calling for transparency and accountability on progress to date. Front-line family practices must be properly supported through these funding structures to maintain and enhance their ability to provide high-quality care to Canadians across the country.