November 10, 2026
The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) welcomes the Government of Canada’s commitments in Budget 2026: Masters of Our Destiny to strengthen economic sovereignty, to improve affordability, to advance reconciliation, to accelerate the transition to clean energy, and to boost productivity through innovation.
Canada’s medical schools have a critical role to play in the pursuit of these goals, and AFMC stands ready with pan-national data and expertise that the government will need to bring these promises to fruition.
Physician Workforce
AFMC is especially encouraged by the government’s decision to extend funding for mental health, addictions, and home and community care, as well as investments that support community-based health infrastructure and vulnerable populations. These investments recognize the growing health needs of Canadians and the importance of accessible, integrated care across the continuum of health services.
AFMC also celebrates the federal government’s significant capital investment in York University’s emerging School of Medicine, which will help expand Canada’s physician training capacity and support innovative models of community-based medical education focused on family medicine, primary care, and service to underserved communities. This investment represents an important contribution to the bricks and mortar of Canada’s medical education ecosystem.
More must be done at the systems level, however, to address the shortage of physicians in Canada. The healthcare crisis is a pan-national, interjurisdictional challenge. The federal government must actively collaborate with provincial and territorial partners to address barriers in the current training ecosystem – in particular, to stabilize funding for existing medical schools, to increase the number of residency positions available across Canada, to open more training clinics, and to discourage protectionist fiscal policies. Sustained action and investment are required to ensure Canadians can access timely, high-quality care in every region of the country.
As a proven national convener, AFMC is eager to support the federal government in undertaking this cross-jurisdictional systems work.
Health Research
AFMC is encouraged by the federal government’s continued support for research, innovation, and commercialization – and especially the expanded incentives for Scientific Research and Experimental Development. These incentives will help move discoveries out of labs and toward real-world applications – including in hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies nationwide.
Canada’s medical schools and teaching hospitals play a critical role in translating discovery into improved health outcomes, strengthening health system performance, and driving economic growth. AFMC strongly encourages the federal government to engage with the academic medicine community when shaping its budget implementation plans related to research. Special attention must be paid to the promotion of talent development and retention in Canada, and the reduction of red tape so that more Canadians can access cutting edge medicines.
In these ways, investment in health research and practical application will help improve the health of Canadians, increase wellbeing and GDP, and foster innovation and economic resilience.
Indigenous Health
AFMC applauds the federal government’s significant investments in First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities – including funding for housing, clean drinking water, and critical community infrastructure. These investments address key social determinants of health and represent important steps toward advancing reconciliation and improving health equity for Indigenous Peoples.
AFMC urges the government to prioritize the implementation of these investments, and remains committed to working alongside Indigenous partners to support culturally safe medical education, health research, and health systems that contribute to improved health outcomes for Indigenous communities across Canada.
Planetary Health
Last but certainly not least, AFMC is pleased to see investments that advance climate resilience and Canada’s clean energy transition. The health impacts of climate change are increasingly evident in communities across the country, from wildfires and extreme heat events to growing pressures on vulnerable populations and health systems.
Through its commitment to planetary health and sustainable health systems, AFMC recognizes that policies supporting environmental sustainability are also investments in the health and well-being of Canadians.
AFMC urges the federal government to review the groundbreaking work laid out in the Academic Health Institutions’ Declaration on Planetary Health and to involve AFMC and other core partners to ensure that health considerations remain central to Canada’s climate and sustainability agenda.
An Invitation
Like universal healthcare, Budget 2026: Masters of our Destiny is an ambitious and complex set of pan-Canadian promises.
AFMC is eager to help the federal government make evidence-informed decisions so that this budget that will have long-term, tangible impacts for all Canadians.
We’re ready to advance these actions together: advocacy@afmc.ca