Huntsville renews $25,000 funding contribution for Health Human Resources Task Force

1 in 5 area residents are without primary care

Huntsville Council agreed to renew their funding contribution for a Health Human Resources (HHR) Task Force, in the July 8, 2025, meeting.

According to the Muskoka Almaguin Ontario Health Team (MAOHT), health service providers, hospital foundations, the District of Muskoka and area municipalities initially funded the HHR program for primary care recruitment for three years, however, it expires this December.

They said, “We have an ongoing demand and ongoing issue.”

The MAOHT requested support to continue the recruitment program because of the shortage of primary care practitioners in the area.

Patient service concerns include 13,000 people on the waitlist for south Muskoka, and 5,176 for Huntsville and area, 1,325 for Health Care Connect, and 650 for Burk’s Falls, according to their report.

Another concern raised is the number of Family Doctors and Nurse Practitioners retiring soon, with 26% of doctors having been in practice for over 30 years, and 18% of nurses over 20 years.

It adds that success so far in 2024-25 includes “15 new family physicians and nurse practitioners joined practices with MAOHT.”

They added that successes include hospital programs north and south of Muskoka being fully staffed until November, developing international candidates, updated marketing, and community tours for candidates.

According to MAOHT, upper-level government “announced investments of $1.85 billion over the next 5 years to create new and expanded primary care teams through the work of Dr. Jane Philpott and the Primary Care Action Team (PCAT).”

They add that Ontario Health Teams are mandated to a Primary Care Network to organize local sector for primary care and engage them in planning and implementing priorities.

They indicated that the focus of the MAOHT will be action, such as marketing and recruitment fairs, engagement, and collaboration.

The funding support from Huntsville for 2025 is $25,000, and the MAOHT requested another 3-year commitment for the same amount from 2026 to 2028.

Councillor, Bob Stone, expressed appreciation about the partnership, even though the Town already has a budget for their own physician recruitment program. He said, “The value for the money…is absolutely fantastic.”

Councillor, Helena Renwick, requested that the MAOHT return in a year with an update about the progress being made and whether the program is “working or not.”

MAOHT indicated that they will return with a report next year and emphasized that their recruitment efforts focus on the fit with the community, with the goal of having doctors stay long-term, rather than quantity of doctors.

Councillor, Scott Morrison, said, “It makes sense to come from MAT tax. Let’s do it.”

In addition to this commitment, the Town has also continued to make progress with their own Physician Incentive Program, with 4 more physicians signed up, said Economic Development Officer, Lauren MacDermid.

She added that so far 6 out of their goal of 10 physicians have been secured in the community, with 4 left to go.

Staff will continue to investigate options for the incentive program and report back later this year.

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