Maple News reports that for newcomers settling in Canada, securing a family doctor is a crucial step toward ensuring both immediate and long-term healthcare. A family doctor acts as a primary healthcare provider, managing everything from routine checkups to referrals for specialists. While emergency services are accessible without one, most non-urgent medical needs are best handled through consistent care with a family physician.
Finding a family doctor, however, can be challenging due to high demand and staffing shortages across the country. Fortunately, every province and territory in Canada offers various tools and registries to connect residents with available physicians or nurse practitioners.
Newcomers are encouraged to register with their province or territory’s healthcare registry—a step-by-step process that typically involves submitting personal information and being placed on a waitlist. Registrants are notified when a healthcare provider becomes available. Each region has its own system and availability, so it’s important to understand the specific process in your area.
Here are some of the regional programs:
– In Ontario, Health Care Connect helps match residents without a family doctor to physicians near them.
– British Columbia operates the Health Connect Registry and Pathways Medical Care.
– Alberta’s “Alberta Find a Doctor” platform assists individuals in finding nearby practices accepting new patients.
– Manitoba’s Family Doctor Finder provides a similar function.
– Québec runs the Family Doctor Finder, accessible through a provincial health portal.
Other provinces such as Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador have developed their own centralized patient connection programs. For Yukoners and residents in the Northwest Territories or Nunavut, health authorities serve as the primary point of contact to help navigate available care options.
To access these public health services at no cost, a valid provincial or territorial health card is typically required. This card is usually issued after establishing residency and applying through the relevant government body.
Though finding a family doctor may involve some waiting, registering as early as possible significantly improves your chances. In the meantime, newcomers can access walk-in clinics, telehealth services, or community health centres for basic services.
Maple News emphasizes that having a family doctor is more than just a convenience—it’s a foundation for integrated, preventive healthcare in Canada.