Ontario is putting $125 million toward expanding orthopedic surgery capacity, a move the provincial government says will reduce wait times and support up to 20,000 additional publicly funded procedures over the next two years.
Deputy Premier and Health Minister Sylvia Jones said the investment will add four new community surgical and diagnostic centres licensed to perform hip and knee replacements. Licences will be issued beginning in early 2026. The province says the expansion will help ensure 90 per cent of patients receive orthopedic care within recommended timelines, up from the current rate of about 80 per cent.
“Our government is leading the country with continued investments that have resulted in the shortest surgical wait times of any province, as we continue taking bold action to help more Ontarians live fuller, more active lives,” Jones said. “By expanding orthopedic surgery capacity across Ontario, we are redoubling our efforts to reduce wait times and get more people access to life-changing procedures sooner, helping them regain mobility, reduce pain and return to the activities they love.”
Jones made the announcement at OV Surgical Centre in Toronto, one of the four sites selected to expand orthopedic services. The other licence recipients include Academic Orthopedic Surgical Associates of Ottawa, Windsor Orthopedic Surgical Centre and Schroeder Ambulatory Centre.
The province said the move builds on earlier investments that added 57 community surgical and diagnostic centres offering MRI and CT scans and endoscopy services, along with a $235-million investment to expand primary care teams across Ontario.
As part of the plan, the government says new surgical centres will be required to submit staffing plans that protect hospital staffing levels, report into Ontario’s wait-time system and participate in central intake systems where available. All centres will operate under Accreditation Canada’s quality-assurance program.
Christopher Wein, CEO of OV Surgical Centre Limited, said the centre is “very pleased” to be selected to help expand access to orthopedic care. “We believe that ICHSC facilities such as ours will contribute to the Ministry of Health’s vision to accelerate hip and knee replacement procedures for all Ontario residents in need,” he said.
Ontario says the expansion is part of its broader “Your Health” plan aimed at increasing access to connected and convenient care across the province.
