Mayor’s Task Force on Medical Recruitment Recommendations Approved by Council
On September 22, 2025, Council endorsed 18 recommendations from the Mayor’s Task Force on Medical Recruitment to help improve access to primary and emergency health care services in Cornwall.
"For over 30 years, the City of Cornwall has offered funding programs in attempts to attract more physicians to our community,” said Mayor Justin Towndale. “It was time to update this program to meet the ever evolving needs our of community, which is why I launched my Task Force on Medical Recruitment. I want to thank the members and staff for their dedicated work and look forward to working with Council as we update and modernize our offerings."
Established in May 2024, the Task Force was led by Mayor Justin Towndale and supported by Councillors Dean Hollingsworth and Denis Sabourin. With the help of Administration, the members hosted dozens of meetings and presentations, all with a central goal providing actionable recommendations to Council for how the municipality could improve its medical recruitment efforts.
Over the last 12-months, many ideas were explored by the members including opportunities to modernize the recruitment programs, further support health care facilities, and the development of new training programs in the region.
"The Task Force was dedicated to finding practical solutions for our community's health care needs," added Tim Mills, Chief Administrative Officer. "The collaborative approach taken by Council, administration, and community partners has paved the way for a more innovative and inclusive medical recruitment program."
A central focus of the Task Force’s report was to improve existing recruitment and retention strategies, including a recommendation to re-establish a Medical Recruitment Program Committee of Council review all recruitment program applications, special requests, and emerging new opportunities.
The Task Force also called for specific eligibility amendments to the existing Medical Scholarship Program and the Medical Recruitment & Relocation Program to allow for applications from nurse practitioners, broader and tiered incentives, and specified criteria for international students.
Proposed program amendments are expected to return to Council for final consideration in the next few months.
Task Force interest holder engagement meetings included representatives from the Cornwall Community Hospital, the Great River Ontario Health Team, Ontario Health, the McConnell Medical Centre, local Family Health Organizations, St. Lawrence College, Queen’s University, local community health centres, and past recipients of the City’s medical programs. Over the last year, the Mayor and Administration contacted 72 interest holders from multiple sectors across the region.
The Task Force achieved its mandate and was dissolved by Council.
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