Ontario Reducing Wait Times for MRI Scans in Thunder Bay
July 4, 2025
New community surgical and diagnostic centre at First Nations Diagnostics will connect more people to publicly funded surgeries
July 4th, 2025
Thunder Bay — The Ontario government is investing $155 million over two years to add 57 new community surgical and diagnostic centres licensed to deliver MRI and CT scans, and gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy services across the province. The expansion will help 1.2 million people access publicly funded procedures faster and is part of the government’s plan to invest in and protect Ontario’s health-care system.
“This investment in MRI services at First Nations Diagnostics will help reduce wait times and connect more people in Thunder Bay to the care they need, closer to home. “said The Hon, Kevin Holland, MPP for Thunder Bay – Atikokan” Improving access to diagnostic imaging is critical to early detection and timely treatment. Thank you to Minister Jones and all our health-care partners for continuing to strengthen care in Northwestern Ontario.”
Following a Call for Applications, First Nations Diagnostics has been approved to provide MRI scans. This new licence is expected to be issued as early as Summer 2025.
The expansion of MRI scan services to First Nations Diagnostics is part of 35 newly licensed centres that will deliver MRI and CT scans across the province, connecting up to 828,000 more people over two years to vital diagnostic imaging – more than four times the province’s original goal. This expansion of services will reduce wait times and ensure patients receive scans within the medically recommended timeframe in regions where the centres will operate.
“When it comes to wait times for surgeries and procedures, the status quo is not acceptable. That’s why our government is taking bold, decisive action to protect Ontario’s health-care system by boosting access to vital surgeries and diagnostic imaging so that families can conveniently access the care they need sooner,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “By licensing 57 new community surgical and diagnostic centres across Ontario, we are reducing wait times and ensuring more people can receive timely care in their community, for years to come.”
As part of Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the government is taking action to protect Ontario by reducing surgical and diagnostic backlogs to make it easier and faster for people to connect to publicly funded surgeries and procedures, when and where they need it.
QUICK FACTS
- For over 30 years, community surgical and diagnostic centres have been providing publicly funded diagnostic imaging, surgeries and procedures.
- There are currently over 900 community surgical and diagnostic centres across the province; the majority provide diagnostic imaging services.
- Existing centres have transitioned to the new Quality Assurance (QA) program. Routine inspections by Accreditation Canada’s new QA program began October 2024.
- No centre can refuse an insured service to a patient who chooses not to purchase uninsured upgrades and no patient can pay to receive insured services faster than anyone else.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES