Northern incentive programs

The following programs offer significant incentives to help physicians who relocate to and remain working in northern communities.

Northern Rural Recruitment and Retention Initiative

Northern and Rural Recruitment and Retention Initiative provides taxable grants, ranging from $84,851 to $124,730, paid over four years, to physicians who establish full-time practices in eligible underserved areas, including the five Northern Urban Referral Centres.

You must apply before establishing full-time practice in the eligible community.

Community eligibility for the NRRRI is based on a Rurality Index for Ontario (RIO) score, a measure of rurality that ensures funding is specifically targeted to northern and very rural communities.

The applicant must have committed to establish a full-time practice (full-time is defined as a minimum of 40 hours per week spent in patient care exclusive of on-call services) in a community whose RIO score is 40 or greater, or in the five Northern Ontario Urban Referral Centre census metropolitan areas (North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Timmins) and in which they have never previously practised full-time.

Full-time is defined as a minimum of 40 hours per week spent in patient care, exclusive of on-call services.

Northern Urban Referral Centres include:

  • Timmins
  • North Bay
  • Sudbury
  • Thunder Bay
  • Sault Ste. Marie

In order for an applicant to be eligible for the NRRRI financial recruitment incentive, the applicant must be approved by the Northern Health Programs office, primary health care branch, before the applicant establishes their practice in the eligible community. Failure to do so may result in the application being denied. In addition, the applicant must establish a full-time practice in an eligible community in which they have never previously practised full-time. The applicant may apply once they have completed residency training, or before establishing their full-time practice and must meet all of the following requirements:

  • Has committed to establish a full-time practice (full-time is defined as a minimum of 40 hours per week spent in patient care exclusive of on-call services) in a community whose RIO score is 40 or greater, or in the five Northern Ontario Urban Referral Centre census metropolitan areas (North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Timmins) and in which they have never previously practised full-time
  • Holds a valid certificate of registration for practice from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, authorizing the holder to engage in medical practice
  • If a family physician, either:
    • Holds a valid certificate from the College of Family Physicians of Canada
    • Has proof that the applicant is fully recognized by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario in family or general practice
  • If a specialist, either
    • Holds a valid specialist certificate issued by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
    • Holds a specialist certificate of registration issued by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario based on having an advanced position/assessment position through Centre for the Evaluation of Health Professionals Educated Abroad in a recognized medical or surgical specialty other than family or general practice
    • Holds a specialist certificate of registration issued on the order of the Registration Committee of the CPSO allowing the physician to practise in a recognized medical or surgical specialty other than family or general practice, where the requirements of registration are otherwise not met, and to which certificate terms, conditions or limitations may be attached
  • Holds a valid Canadian Medical Protective Association membership number
  • Holds Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status
  • Holds active or associate hospital privileges in the community, or if there is no hospital in the community, in an adjacent community (as required by the community and approved by the NHP)
  • Agrees to provide ER coverage, unless an exemption is provided by the community or hospital and approved by the NHP
  • If a family physician has joined a primary care model and is committed to participating fully in comprehensive physician services. Refer to the comprehensive physician services section below
  • Has not previously received the NRRRI grant through this program, or free tuition program funding and/or an incentive grant through the Northern Health Programs for a full four-year duration

Financial recruitment incentives are paid out quarterly over a period of four years: 40 per cent in year one; 15 per cent in year two; 15 per cent in year three; and 30 per cent in year four.

Northern Physician Retention Initiative

Northern Physician Retention Initiative provides funding to support physicians who remain in northern Ontario and maintain active hospital privileges. Applications are due March 31.

Eligibility for the NPRI is determined annually for fiscal years ending March 31, based upon the submission of a complete application package.

To be eligible for NPRI, the physician must:

  • At the time of application, have completed a minimum of four years of continuous full-time practice in northern Ontario after completion of their financial recruitment incentive duration, and must continue to practise full-time in northern Ontario until the end of each fiscal year
  • Maintain a full-time fee-for-service practice, work full-time in a Community Health Centre or approved alternate payment plan arrangement, or work full-time as a hospitalist
  • Hold a valid certificate of registration to practise medicine in Ontario from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
  • Hold a certificate from The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in a specific specialty (if applicable)
  • Hold an OHIP billing number and have billing privileges
  • Hold current active hospital staff privileges

Or

  •  Have been in practice in Ontario for more than 25 years, during which time he or she held active hospital privileges
  • Maintain another recognized medical staff category in the hospital
  • Continue to maintain a full-time community practice and fulfill all of the other requirements of the NPRI

Exceptions for eligibility

Physicians who practise in communities where there is no hospital, but who meet all the NPRI criteria except those who hold current active hospital staff privileges are eligible to receive the NPRI incentive.

Physicians who are receiving funding through the Northern Health Programs' Northern and Rural Recruitment and Retention Initiative are not eligible to receive the NPRI retention incentive until their financial recruitment incentive duration is completed.

More information

For more information on how to apply, the approval process, and grant values and payments, please visit the Ministry of Health's webpages: