Frequently Asked Questions

YMCA – 4 GTA locations. Best to call (416) 925-5462

When attending or program, you will develop and improve your listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Based on your English knowledge, enroll in a full-time language class from Literacy to Level 7.

YMCA – 4 locations.  Best to call  (416) 925-5462 

1. Permanent Residents of Canada who are not Canadian citizens 
2. Convention Refugees
3. Persons in Canada applying to become a permanent resident and who have been informed by a letter from Citizenship and Immigration Canada about the initial approval of an application, subject to completion of background check 
4. Adults (18 years of age or older) who have their English tested at one of the local YMCA Language Assessment and Referral Centres in Toronto 

https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=571&top=5 

Taking a Test in Authorized Centre 
https://www.language.ca/home/ 

Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) 
https://www.language.ca/home/ 
https://www.clb-osa.ca/home?pageid=6 

We don’ t offers these programs, links available: 
https://www.ieltscanada.ca/ 
https://www.ielts.org/ 

The classes are free of charge for eligible clients.

You can start any day. We have an ongoing intake.

For this information follow the link below

https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=571&top=5 

Refugee claimants do not have to pay for a work permit unless a refugee claim has been denied. If the IRB denied your case, and you are in the process of appealing, you have to pay the fee to renew your work permit.

If you are a protected person or convention refugee, we can help you apply for permanent residence. It would be helpful to refer to your PIF
https://irb-cisr.gc.ca/en/forms/Pages/RpdSpr0201.aspx). https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/application-permanent-residence-canada-protected-persons-convention-refugees.html

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/new-immigrants/pr-card/how-to-apply.html 

You need to download the form, print it and mail it, along with supporting documents. 
An excellent place to start is writing down all your previous addresses, with move-in/out dates from the past five years.
What have you been doing during the last five years, including work, studies, unemployment, maternity, and any travel with exact dates and number of days? 
The Application Fee is $50, and you need to create an account with IRCC to pay with your credit card. 
Our services are free. 
 

Check Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website 

The first thing to do is see if you are eligible by checking the Physical Presence Calculator https://eservices.cic.gc.ca/rescalc/resCalcStartNew.do?lang=en. 

Adults and minors have different forms. Also, an excellent place to start is by creating a list of:  

• All your addresses in the past five years, including move-in/out dates. 
• What you've been up, including work, studies, unemployment, maternity, etc. 
• Any travelling with exact dates and number of days. 

The Application Fee is $630 per adult and $100 for minors. You need to create an account with IRCC to pay with your credit card. 

Our services are free. 

Yes, we offer free citizenship preparation classes – currently online. We use the Discover Canada book. 

1. While child care costs are relatively high in Ontario, each region has different rules and fees. 
2. Depending on your income, you may also be eligible for a child care Fee Subsidy. If you are receiving social assistance through Ontario Works, support with the application and costs for child care is available through the OW program. You will need to provide proof of income, information about the applicant's employment or education. 
3. Click here to apply for Childcare Subsidy in Toronto: https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/employment-social-support/child-family-support/child-care-support/. 

Find child care centres near you and contact them directly to determine if they have a spot for your child. You will need to get on the waitlist for each child care centre. 

Click here to find a childcare centre near your area in Toronto: https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/children-parenting/children-programs-activities/licensed-child-care/. 

Applying for Child Care Fee Subsidy in York Region: click here. 

Applying for Child Care Subsidy in Peel Region: click here.

You need your child’s Birth Certificate, immigration documents, proof of home address, and immunization records. 

https://settlement.org/ontario/education/elementary-and-secondary-school/enrol-your-child-in-school/how-do-i-enrol-my-child-in-school/

Here are a few online resources available where you can register for free online courses: 

• FutureLearn provides free access to hundreds of courses on various subjects, including English, Computer Systems, History, and much more: www.futurelearn.com. 
• Harvard University is offering some free online courses : https://online-learning.harvard.edu/catalog/free. 
• The University of Toronto is also offering some free online courses : https://www.classcentral.com/university/utoronto. 

High school programs are on a credit-based system. Students must earn a minimum of 30 credits to obtain a high school diploma. Eighteen of the credits are compulsory, acquired in a specified number of courses from a list of subjects that every student must take. The remaining 12 credits are optional, earned in studies that the student may select from the school’s full range of options and interests. In Grade 9, most students take eight courses and, if passed, will receive one credit for each of those classes.

Yes. Employment services including building/improving your resume, job search and preparing for interviews by communicating with professional job developers at the LEF. 

The LEF also helps youth learn about career & employment opportunities by meeting with professionals from various fields. 

Canada Summer Jobs is a government program that gives trusted employers funding for creating quality jobs for young Canadians. 

Every year, Canada Summer Jobs advertise these opportunities on Job Bank to help more young Canadians find them and apply. Please see https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/youth  

Your interests and the way you like to work are essential aspects to consider when deciding on a career path. You can click on the link below and take a quiz to explore your potential career pathway.  

https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/workpreference  

World Education Services (WES) https://www.wes.org/ca/ 

A report from WES: 

•Identifies and describes your credentials 

•Verifies that your credentials are authentic 

•May include a grade point average (GPA) equivalency 

•Includes an evaluation of the authenticity of your documents 

Types of Evaluations: 

• Document-by-Document: approximately $150 

• Course-by-Course: approximately $250 

International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS) https://www.icascanada.ca/home.aspx 

Type of Evaluations: 

•General Report ($90) 

•Secondary School Comprehensive Report ($130) 

•Postsecondary Comprehensive Report ($200) 

•Secondary and Post-secondary Comprehensive Report ($280) 

Processing time for reports range between 8-24 weeks

Yes, there is. The Canada Child Benefit (CCB), sometimes called the Child Tax Benefit, is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and is a tax-free monthly payment for eligible families. CCB's purpose is to assist with the cost of raising children under 18 years old. 

• To be eligible to receive the CCB, you must: 
• Live with a child that is 18 or younger. 
• Be primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of the child. 
• Be a resident of Canada (for tax purposes) 
• You or your common-law partner/spouse should be any of the following: 
• Canadian citizen 
• Permanent Resident 
• Protected Person 
• Temporary Resident who has lived in Canada for the last 18 months and has a valid permit for the 19th month 
• An Indigenous person who meets the definition of "Indian" under the Indian Ac

You can find out what community and social services are available near you based on your postal code by either calling '2-1-1' or visiting their website at https://211central.ca.

If you or someone you know requires immediate shelter due to homelessness or an unsafe environment, 211 or other community support phone lines where you can call and learn which shelters are available in your area. There are shelters open that serve only women, only men, youth, families, and more. If you are in Toronto, please call Central Intake at (416) 338-4766. If you are in York Region, please call the Transitional Shelter Intake Line at 1-877-464-9675 ext. 76140, or email TransitionalShelter.Line@york.ca. Families with children living in York Region are asked to contact the Family Shelter at Leeder Place at 1-888-554-5525. If you are in the Peel region, please contact 905-450-1996 to find a shelter near you based on your circumstances. These contact lines are all available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

The Furniture Bank (see their website here) is an organization that provides people in need with low-cost, gently used furniture. If you live in Toronto, Scarborough, Mississauga, Oakville, Brampton, Thornhill, Markham, Richmond Hill, Vaughan, or Aurora, you may be eligible. Due to COVID-19, The Furniture Bank is not offering in-person selection but is now done through email with a staff member. The Learning Enrichment Foundation is an agency partner of the Furniture Bank, which means that our staff can register you for this service. To get started, please call us at (416) 769 0830. 

If you are not able to afford furniture, otherwise, you are eligible, which includes newcomers to Canada, people receiving government income assistance (e.g. Ontario Works [OW], Ontario Disability Support Program [ODSP], Canada Child Benefit [CCB], Employment Insurance [EI], Canada Recovery Benefit [CRB], etc.) people escaping domestic violence, individuals whose furniture has been destroyed in some way (e.g. bed bugs, house fire, burglary/home invasion), people transitioning from homelessness to housing, and more. 

If you can afford to purchase furniture at full retail price, you are not eligible. Cases vary from person to person. For example, if you own your home and are looking to furnish your basement to rent it out, you will not be eligible for the Furniture Bank. While we appreciate your interest, please note that the Furniture Bank is a need-based program.

The services of the staff at The Learning Enrichment Foundation are free. The only fee associated with the Furniture Bank referral process is the cost for delivery – the team at the Furniture Bank will deliver your selected furniture to your home. The flat delivery fee is $200. 

• The Ontario Health Insurance Program (OHIP) covers standard health care with taxes
• To qualify for OHIP every person (including children) needs a health card
• You should carry your health card with you at all times

Full OHIP coverage of costs:

• Family doctor visits
• Hospital stay
• Eye exams every 12 months (≤19 years and ≥65 years old) or every 2 years (20-64 years old)
• Dental surgery in hospital

Partial OHIP coverage of costs:

• Ambulances
• Podiatry (problems with the feet, ankles and lower legs)

• Cost of prescription drugs for anyone under the age of 65
• Dental care
• Non-essential services such as a chiropractor, physiotherapy, massage, acupuncture, or reflexology
• Mental health care or counselling
• Crutches or casts
• Immunizations required for travel
• Medical examinations for permanent residency application

You are eligible for OHIP if you:

• Are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or landed immigrant.
• Have submitted an application for citizenship or permanent residence in Canada, and you meet the government’s eligibility requirements.
• Are a foreign worker with a valid work permit. This includes the Live-in Caregiver Program and the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program.
• Live in Ontario as your primary place of residence and will be physically present in the province for at least 153 days out of any 12-month period.

Online: Visit the following website: https://www.ontario.ca/page/apply-ohip-and-get-health-card

In-person: Apply for OHIP in person at a ServiceOntario centre. Visit this website to find the nearest location to you and to make an appointment: https://www.ontario.ca/locations/serviceontario.

1. Registration for Ontario Health Insurance Coverage form
2. Three original pieces of identification which, combined, meet the following criteria:
   1. 1 piece proving Canadian citizenship or OHIP-eligible immigration status
   2. 1 piece proving residency in Ontario
   3. 1 piece proving your identity (with your full name and photo)

There are several health centers around the Greater Toronto Area which provide a variety of health services for newcomers. Here is a brief list. 

1. Canadian Centre for Refugee and Immigrant Healthcare
   • Website: https://www.healthequity.ca/ 
   • Services
     1. Gavin Pape Diabetes and Vascular Health Clinic
     2. Paediatric Outreach Program - for infants, children and adolescents who are underinsured or not insured.
     3. Mental Health Team - provide psychotherapy for short-term stressors, domestic violence, grief, abuse or parenting issues and mental illnesses such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and addictions.
     4. Women’s Health: Scarborough Women Need & Assessment (SWAN) - provides the following services:
        1. Female Pelvic Exam and PAP Test
        2. Maternal and Newborn Care
        3. Female Genital Mutilation Screening and Assessment
        4. Sexual Health Counselling
        5. Sexual Transmitted Infections Screening
        6. Family Planning and Birth Control Counselling and Prescription
        7. Breast Examination and Cancer Screening
        8. Pregnancy Testing and Referral
2. Access Alliance
   • Website: https://accessalliance.ca/
   • Services
     1. West Toronto Diabetes Education Program - help with managing type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes. Information is provided about understanding diabetes, medications, self-monitoring blood sugars, healthy eating, physical activity, stress management.
     2. Non-insured walk-in services
     3. Health with dignity
     4. Mental Health Services - provide mental health services (post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety or depression) for immigrants, newcomers, refugees, non-status individuals and their communities.

• A family doctor, also known as a general practitioner, is the doctor that you see for most of your health care needs. You make an appointment with your family doctor if you need a medical appointment, but you don’t need to see a doctor immediately.
• If you need to see a doctor right away, visit the nearest hospital’s emergency department or call 9-1-1 on the telephone.

1. Apply for Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) coverage and get a health card.
   • In Ontario, it is easiest to access healthcare if you have Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) coverage
     • Click here to visit the Ontario government’s website to apply for OHIP
   • To do this, you will need:
     1. One document that proves your Canadian citizenship or OHIP-eligible immigration status (such as a Canadian Passport or Permanent Resident Card)
     2. One document that proves your residency in Ontario (such as an Ontario driver’s license or utility bill)
     3. One document that proves your identity (such as a credit card or employee ID)
2. If you would like help finding a family doctor, register for Health Care Connect.
   • Health Care Connect connects you with a nurse that will find the right doctor nearby
   • You can register for Health Care Connect online: 
     • Online: by clicking here 
     • Phone: by calling 1-800-445-1822 from Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM
   • You will need your Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) health card number
3. You can also find a family doctor online.
   • You can use the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) website here to search for a doctor by location, hospital, or name
   • If you are looking for a family doctor, select “Family Doctor” under the “Type of Doctor” field
4. Other options: 
   • Ask a friend, neighbour, or colleague
   • Check local newspapers for advertisements for doctors taking on new patients
   • Contact nearby hospitals with family health practices

• Use the CPSO search and filter your search by language
• You can also speak to someone at your nearest settlement services agency, who may have a list of doctors that speak your language that are accepting new patients
  • Click here then select your area and choose “settlement services” to find the nearest settlement services agency to you.

1. If you would like to switch to a new family doctor, find a new family doctor using the steps outlined in “How do I get a family doctor?”.
2. Then, remove yourself from your current family doctor’s patient list. To do this, you can:
   1. Contact your family doctor directly
   2. Call ServiceOntario on the telephone at 1-888-218-9929 (TTY: 1-800-387-5559)

• If you need to access other health care services such as a walk-in clinic to see a doctor without an appointment, physiotherapy, mental health services, diabetes health care services, or sexual health services, you can use the search tool here.
• This search tool allows you to input your location and the type of service you would like.
• You will be provided with a list of appropriate service providers.

1. MD Home Call
   • With OHIP coverage, you have a doctor visit you at your home for non-urgent medical concerns.
   • Visit the website here or call on the telephone at 637-447-3317 in the GTA.
2. Refugee Health Line
   • You can call the Refugee Health Line at 1-866-286-4770 to connect with a healthcare provider that can help with initial non-urgent medical assessments or refer you to more specialized health care services.
3. TeleHealth Ontario
   • For non-urgent, confidential, free medical care over the telephone, you can contact TeleHealth Ontario at any time at 1-866-797-0000 (TTY: 1-866-797-0007).
4. Rainbow Health Ontario Service Directory
   • To find a doctor or other healthcare professional who can deliver LGBT2SQ-friendly healthcare in Ontario, click here.

In Ontario, there is no easy way to access all your personal health records at once. Different types of health records need to be accessed in different ways. Below are the types of medical records in Ontario, and each has a separate FAQ with details on how to access them:

• Health records from hospital and emergency department visits, visits with medical specialists, or long-term care details. Also known as: Acute and Community Clinical Data Repository (acCDR).
• Reports about results of imaging like x-rays, CT scans, or MRIs. Also known as: Diagnostic Imaging-Common Service (DI-CS).
• Requisitions and results from lab tests like urine tests, blood tests, or microbiology tests that were performed in hospitals, community laboratories, or public health laboratories. Also known as: Ontario Laboratories Information System (OLIS).
• Records from your visits to your family doctor or other general practitioner including information about current health conditions, past medical or surgical history, allergies, medications, risk factors for disease, or vital signs (such as blood pressure). Also known as: Primary Care Clinical Data Repository (pcCDR).
• Information about drugs, prescriptions, and pharmacy services that you have used. Also known as: Digital Health Drug Repository (DHDR).
• Records of immunizations you have received in the past and, if applicable, which immunizations you may need in the future. Also known as: Immunization records.
   

Yes, you can. Below are the types of medical records in Ontario, and each has a separate FAQ with details on how to make corrections to them:

• Health records from hospital and emergency department visits, visits with medical specialists, or long-term care details. Also known as: Acute and Community Clinical Data Repository (acCDR).
• Reports about results of imaging like x-rays, CT scans, or MRIs. Also known as: Diagnostic Imaging-Common Service (DI-CS).
• Requisitions and results from lab tests like urine tests, blood tests, or microbiology tests that were performed in hospitals, community laboratories, or public health laboratories. Also known as: Ontario Laboratories Information System (OLIS).
• Records from your visits to your family doctor or other general practitioner including information about current health conditions, past medical or surgical history, allergies, medications, risk factors for disease, or vital signs (such as blood pressure). Also known as: Primary Care Clinical Data Repository (pcCDR).
• Information about drugs, prescriptions, and pharmacy services that you have used. Also known as: Digital Health Drug Repository (DHDR).
• Records of immunizations you have received in the past and, if applicable, which immunizations you may need in the future. Also known as: Immunization records.
   

Also known as: Acute and Community Clinical Data Repository (acCDR)

How to access records:

1. Visit https://ehealthontario.on.ca/en/patients-and-families/accessing-your-ehr
2. Find the form titled “EHR Request for Access and Correction to Personal Health Information Form” at the bottom of the page
3. Complete the form, including all sections except for section 4 which pertains to requesting changes to records
   • If you have questions about filling out the form, call 416-946-4767 or call 1-888-411-7742 (ext. 64767) or email OH-DS_privacy@ontariohealth.ca
4. Mail or fax the completed form
   • If you want to mail the form, mail it to:
     • Privacy Office
       Ontario Health – Digital Services
       777 Bay Street, 7th Floor
       PO Box 148
       Toronto, ON M5G 2C8
   • If you want to fax the form, fax it to:
     • 416-586-4397 or 1-866-831-0107

How to make corrections to records:

1. Contact the healthcare provider who made the records directly to request the change, or follow steps 2–5 below
2. Visit https://ehealthontario.on.ca/en/patients-and-families/accessing-your-ehr
3. Find the form titled “EHR Request for Access and Correction to Personal Health Information Form” at the bottom of the page
4. Complete the form, including all sections
   • If you have questions about filling out the form, call 416-946-4767 or call 1-888-411-7742 (ext. 64767) or email OH-DS_privacy@ontariohealth.ca
5. Mail or fax the completed form
   • If you want to mail the form, mail it to:
     • Privacy Office
       Ontario Health – Digital Services
       777 Bay Street, 7th Floor
       PO Box 148
       Toronto, ON M5G 2C8
   • If you want to fax the form, fax it to:
     • 416-586-4397 or 1-866-831-0107

Also known as: Diagnostic Imaging-Common Service (DI-CS)

How to access records:

1. Visit https://ehealthontario.on.ca/en/patients-and-families/accessing-your-ehr
2. Find the form titled “EHR Request for Access and Correction to Personal Health Information Form” at the bottom of the page
3. Complete the form, including all sections except for section 4 which pertains to requesting changes to records
   • If you have questions about filling out the form, call 416-946-4767 or call 1-888-411-7742 (ext. 64767) or email OH-DS_privacy@ontariohealth.ca
4. Mail or fax the completed form
   • If you want to mail the form, mail it to:
     • Privacy Office
       Ontario Health – Digital Services
       777 Bay Street, 7th Floor
       PO Box 148
       Toronto, ON M5G 2C8
   • If you want to fax the form, fax it to:
     • 416-586-4397 or 1-866-831-0107

How to make corrections to records:

1. Contact the healthcare provider who made the records directly to request the change, or follow steps 2–5 below
2. Visit https://ehealthontario.on.ca/en/patients-and-families/accessing-your-ehr
3. Find the form titled “EHR Request for Access and Correction to Personal Health Information Form” at the bottom of the page
4. Complete the form, including all sections
   • If you have questions about filling out the form, call 416-946-4767 or call 1-888-411-7742 (ext. 64767) or email OH-DS_privacy@ontariohealth.ca
5. Mail or fax the completed form
   • If you want to mail the form, mail it to:
     • Privacy Office
       Ontario Health – Digital Services
       777 Bay Street, 7th Floor
       PO Box 148
       Toronto, ON M5G 2C8
   • If you want to fax the form, fax it to:
     • 416-586-4397 or 1-866-831-0107

Also known as: Ontario Laboratories Information System (OLIS)

How to access records:

1. Contact Ontario’s Freedom Of Information & Privacy Coordinator Access and Privacy Office at the Ministry of Health by telephone or email to say that you would like access to your OLIS records and provide them with the information listed in step 2
   • If you want to contact the office by telephone, call 416-327-7040
   • If you want to contact the office by email, send an email to generalapo@ontario.ca
2. Provide the office information that will help to locate the records you want, including:
   • Your name
   • Your address
   • Your phone number
   • Your date of birth
   • Your health card information (if applicable)
   • The date that tests were completed
   • The location that the tests were completed
   • The type of tests that were completed
3. If any of the information in step 2 is not available to you, say this to the office and try to provide as much detail as possible to help them find the records
   • For example, if you do not know the date your test was completed, try to provide a range of dates that it may have taken place in by saying something like “it happened some time between January 5, 2021 and January 26, 2021”

How to make corrections to records:

1. Contact Ontario’s Freedom Of Information & Privacy Coordinator Access and Privacy Office at the Ministry of Health by telephone or email to say that you would like to make changes to your OLIS records and provide them with the information listed in step 2
   • If you want to contact the office by telephone, call 416-327-7040
   • If you want to contact the office by email, send an email to generalapo@ontario.ca
2. Provide the office information that will help to locate and make appropriate changes to the records you want, including:
   • Your name
   • Your address
   • Your phone number
   • Your date of birth
   • Your health card information (if applicable)
   • The date that tests were completed
   • The location that the tests were completed
   • The type of tests that were completed
   • What the requested changes to the records are
3. If any of the information in step 2 is not available to you, say this to the office and try to provide as much detail as possible to help them find the records
   • For example, if you do not know the date your test was completed, try to provide a range of dates that it may have taken place in by saying something like “it happened sometime between January 5, 2021 and January 26, 2021”
      

Also known as: Primary Care Clinical Data Repository (pcCDR)

How to access records:

1. Find your family doctor or general practitioner’s contact information
   • Visit the CPSO website at https://www.cpso.on.ca
   • Search for your doctor using the Doctor Search feature on the home page
2. Call or email your doctor to request access to your medical records, and provide them with information to help locate your records including:
   • Your name
   • Your address
   • Your phone number
   • Your date of birth
   • Your health card information (if applicable)
   • If there is a specific type of information you want access to, provide details about what it is you want access to
3. If your doctor is retired and you are not able to contact them, call the CPSO by phoning 416-967-2600 to help locate your records
4. If steps 1–3 do not work, you can contact the ClinicalConnect Program Office by telephone or email and provide them with the information listed in step 2, along with the name and address of your doctor’s practice
   • If you would like to contact the office by phone, call 905-577-8270
   • If you would like to contact the office by email, send an email to privacy@clinicalconnect.ca

How to make corrections to records:

1. Find your family doctor or general practitioner’s contact information if you do not already have it
   • Visit the CPSO website at https://www.cpso.on.ca
   • Search for your doctor using the Doctor Search feature on the home page
2. Call or email your doctor to request that changes be made to your medical records, and provide them with information to help locate and change your records including:
   • Your name
   • Your address
   • Your phone number
   • Your date of birth
   • Your health card information (if applicable)
   • What changes you want to be made to your records
3. If your doctor is retired and you are not able to contact them, call the CPSO by phoning 416-967-2600 to help locate your records
4. If steps 1–3 do not work, you can contact the ClinicalConnect Program Office by telephone or email and provide them with the information listed in step 2, along with the name and address of your doctor’s practice
   • If you would like to contact the office by phone, call 905-577-8270
   • If you would like to contact the office by email, send an email to privacy@clinicalconnect.ca
      

Also known as: Digital Health Drug Repository (DHDR)

How to access records:

1. Call the Service Ontario INFOline by calling 1-800-291-1405 (TTY: 1-800-387-5559)
2. Provide them with information to identify you and find your records including:
   • Your name
   • Your address
   • Your phone number
   • Your date of birth
   • Your health card information (if applicable)
   • The date range for the records you want to access

How to make corrections to records:

1. Send a letter to Drug Programs Delivery Branch, Ontario Public Drugs Program Division 5700 Yonge Street 3rd Floor Toronto, ON M2M 4K5
2. Provide them with information to identify you and find and change your records including:
   • Your name
   • Your address
   • Your phone number
   • Your date of birth
   • Your health card information (if applicable)
   • The date range for the records you want to access
   • The changes you would like to make to your records
      

Also known as: Immunization Records

How to access records:

1. Click the following link to find the contact information for your local public health unit: https://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/common/system/services/phu/locations.aspx
2. Find the name of your local public health unit and call the phone number listed in the web page in step 1 to ask about how you can access your immunization records
   • If you do not know what your local public health unit is, visit this website and input your postal code: https://www.phdapps.health.gov.on.ca/phulocator/

How to make corrections to your records:

1. Click the following link to find the contact information for your local public health unit: https://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/common/system/services/phu/locations.aspx
2. Find the name of your local public health unit and call the phone number listed in the web page in step 1 to ask about how you can access and make changes to your immunization records
   • If you do not know what your local public health unit is, visit this website and input your postal code: https://www.phdapps.health.gov.on.ca/phulocator/
      

In addition to yourself, any member of your health care team such as doctors, nurses, public health units, and long-term care facilities have access to your medical records in order to provide you with the best possible healthcare.

You may access the medical records of a child under the age of 16 whom you have legal custody or guardianship over, so long as they have not disagreed with your request to access their records. You will need to provide proof of custody or guardianship. You may not access the medical records of other members of your family who could otherwise request access to their medical records on their own.

It depends on what type of test you want. Many tests (like certain blood tests) can be taken without talking to your doctor, but others (like allergy testing or diagnostic imaging tests) require a signed requisition form from your doctor.

In general, it is recommended that you talk to your family doctor before getting any medical test. The advantages of talking to your doctor before trying to get a medical test include:

• Most tests will be covered by OHIP when you have a referral from your doctor, meaning you won’t need to pay
• Your doctor will know whether the test you want to get is right for you, and which additional tests you may need based on your health questions or concerns
• Many laboratories or testing centres require a requisition from your doctor before completing a test

For more details about how to get a test in Ontario, see the FAQ titled “How do I get medical tests in Ontario?”

If you want to get a medical test in Ontario, it is always recommended that you make an appointment with your family doctor first. Your family doctor will know what tests are required based on your medical concerns and will provide you with appropriate guidance.

To talk to your doctor about getting medical tests, follow the instructions below:

1. Make an appointment with your family doctor
2. Be prepared to talk about what your medical concerns are, what test you are interested in getting, and why you want to get that test
3. If your family doctor agrees that the test would be helpful, they will provide you with a requisition that you can take to the laboratory or test centre when you get your test
4. When the results of your test are available, your doctor will contact you to discuss the results with you

It is recommended to speak to your family doctor first, there may be reasons you want to get a test without talking to your family doctor first. If this is the case, it is important to know that:

• You often have to pay for a test that you wouldn’t have to if you had a requisition from a doctor
• Some tests are not possible to obtain without referral from a doctor (although it does not need to be your family doctor)
• Some laboratories and testing centres may not accept patients without a doctor referral

To get a medical test without talking to your family doctor, consider the options below:

• The best way to know if you need a doctor’s referral for a test is to ask a clinic that offers the test
  • If you know what test you want to get, search the internet for a nearby clinic that offers that type of testing and call them to ask if a doctor’s referral is needed
    • If a referral is not needed, ask them what the cost of the test will be and ask if you can book an appointment for the test
    • If a referral is needed, consider using a service like https://www.getmaple.ca/features/lab-work/ to obtain a referral from a doctor other than your family doctor
• Services like https://www.getmaple.ca/features/lab-work/ allow you to connect with a healthcare professional other than your family doctor so that they can provide you with a test requisition if they feel it is appropriate
  • A doctor may not provide the requisition if they feel that the test you are requesting is not appropriate
• Some common tests are listed below:
  • For blood tests, services like https://bloodtestscanada.com allow you to get a requisition for a test without a doctor’s referral
  • Some tests like speech and language assessments for children, hearing tests, vision tests, and oral hygiene assessments do not require a doctor’s referral in Ontario
     

If you are looking to get answers about how you were treated or why things were done a certain way in a medical setting, the best way is often to express your concerns to your doctor directly or, if your treatment took place in a hospital, speak to the patient advocate.

If you want to file a formal complaint to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO), follow these steps:

1. Visit the CPSO website’s complaints section here: https://www.cpso.on.ca/Public/Services/Complaints
2. Fill out the complaint form under the “How do you make a complaint?” heading
   • If you are filling out the form on someone else’s behalf, you must also fill out the authorization for representation form under the “How do you make a complaint?” heading
3. The CPSO will follow-up with you, notify the doctor of the complaint, and try to help resolve the concern

For more information about how the complaints are processed, visit the CPSO website’s complaints section (https://www.cpso.on.ca/Public/Services/Complaints) and read the section titled “What happens with my complaint?”

If your complaint relates to sexual abuse from a doctor, visit the CPSO website’s complaints section (https://www.cpso.on.ca/Public/Services/Complaints) and read more about reporting sexual abuse under the “What if I've been sexually abused by my doctor?” heading.