How far are return of service communities from downtown Toronto?
By scheduled GO train from Union Station, among the communities we sampled outside the exclusion list, median direct trains take about 42 minutes to Oakville, 48 to Ajax, 62 to Oshawa and 98 to Barrie South. Some lines have no weekday morning train out of Union.
Researched by Button Health. Last checked .
We built this comparison from GO’s own schedule data, the 407 ETR’s published rates and Census 2021 commuting tables. The times below are scheduled train times between stations. They do not include walking, parking or the trip between Union and your home or clinic.
The guidelines do not name these communities. They are listed here because they are not on the exclusion list.
GO train times from Union Station
Sampled Tuesday, November 17, 2026, using direct trains. Minutes are medians, computed from GO’s schedule data and spot-checked against its timetables.
| Community | Station | Line | From Union | To Union | One-way standard adult fare | Population, 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oakville | Oakville GO | Lakeshore West | 42 | 44 | $9.70 | 213,759 |
| Richmond Hill | Richmond Hill GO | Richmond Hill | 47 | 50 | $8.15 | 202,022 |
| Ajax | Ajax GO | Lakeshore East | 48 | 50 | $10.20 | 126,666 |
| Aurora | Aurora GO | Barrie | 51 | 52 | $10.15 | 62,057 |
| Whitby | Whitby GO | Lakeshore East | 56 | 58 | $11.40 | 138,501 |
| Burlington | Burlington GO | Lakeshore West | 61 | 62 | $12.30 | 186,948 |
| Newmarket | Newmarket GO | Barrie | 62 | 62 | $11.15 | 87,942 |
| Oshawa | Durham College Oshawa GO | Lakeshore East | 62 | 63 | $12.25 | 175,383 |
| Hamilton | Hamilton GO Centre | Lakeshore West | 76 | 75 | $13.60 | 569,353 |
| Barrie | Barrie South GO | Barrie | 98 | 98 | $15.25 | 147,829 |
GO says PRESTO is cheaper than the standard fare. It prints only a few station examples, such as $8.16 for Oakville, so use its trip planner for yours.
Data used in this product or service is provided with the permission of Metrolinx. Metrolinx makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, with respect to the Data and assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or currency of the data used in this product or service.
Living downtown and working outside the excluded area
Census flows mostly run toward Toronto, and GO service follows that pattern. This table checks the opposite trip, on direct trains only. A zero means no direct train, not no transit.
| Station | Trains leaving Union, 5:00 to 9:30 a.m. | Trains back to Union, 3:30 to 7:00 p.m. |
|---|---|---|
| Oakville | 7 | 7 |
| Burlington | 7 | 7 |
| Ajax | 7 | 7 |
| Whitby | 7 | 7 |
| Oshawa | 7 | 7 |
| West Harbour (Hamilton) | 3 | 3 |
| Aurora | 0 | 0 |
| Newmarket | 0 | 0 |
| Barrie South | 0 | 0 |
| Richmond Hill | 0 | 0 |
| Hamilton GO Centre | 0 | 0 |
What that adds up to
Here is the train time alone, as a yearly total, at 5 clinical days a week for 46 weeks. Your door-to-door time is longer.
| Station | Train minutes a day, both ways | Train hours a year |
|---|---|---|
| Oakville | 86 | 330 |
| Ajax | 98 | 376 |
| Whitby | 114 | 437 |
| Burlington | 123 | 472 |
| Oshawa | 125 | 479 |
| West Harbour (Hamilton) | 162 | 621 |
For comparison, 480 hours is 64 clinical days of 7.5 hours.
Driving and the 407
The 407 ETR publishes rates by zone, direction, day type and entry time, effective January 1, 2026. They may change January 1, 2027. Here are examples from one zone:
| Zone 7 (Hwy 427 to Hwy 400) | Cents per km | Per 10 km |
|---|---|---|
| Westbound, weekday, 7 a.m. | 108.79 | $10.88 |
| Eastbound, weekday, 3:30 p.m. | 119.21 | $11.92 |
| Either direction, weekday, 9 p.m. | 50.56 | $5.06 |
| Other charges | With transponder | Without |
|---|---|---|
| Trip toll charge | $1 | $1 |
| Camera charge | None | $5.30 a trip |
| Monthly | $5 lease, or $31.50 a year, plus tax | $5 account fee |
The rate page does not list kilometres by zone, so we have not published a trip total. Use the official calculator with your interchanges and entry time. The 407 also does not reach downtown, so tolls cover only part of a trip. East of Brock Road, Ontario removed tolls on Highway 407 East on June 1, 2025.
Who already makes this trip
Statistics Canada’s 2021 Census counted people with a usual place of work. It was taken in May 2021, during the pandemic, and it does not isolate downtown.
| Lives in | To the Toronto CMA | To the City of Toronto (approximate) | Average commute by car | Average by transit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oshawa CMA | 42,720 | 20,560 | 40.4 min | 72.1 min |
| Hamilton CMA | 36,795 | 7,770 | 38.9 min | 73.0 min |
| Barrie CMA | 17,510 | 3,780 | 49.3 min | 81.0 min |
The Toronto CMA includes places such as Ajax, Pickering and Mississauga, so these averages mix short and long trips. Statistics Canada also lists these municipalities by flow into the City of Toronto: Richmond Hill 13,070, Ajax 12,090, Whitby 8,910, Oshawa 7,780, Oakville 6,515.
The patient catchment rule refers to patients residing in eligible communities. These figures count commuters, not patients, and do not show that care at a Toronto clinic would count. That question is for the ministry.
Confirm how this applies to your agreement with the Ministry of Health.
Common questions
Can I live downtown and take the GO to a return of service job?
On Lakeshore East and West, yes: Oakville, Burlington, Ajax, Whitby and Oshawa each had 7 direct trains leaving Union between 5:00 and 9:30 a.m. on the weekday we sampled. Aurora, Newmarket, Barrie South, Richmond Hill and Hamilton GO Centre had no direct train in that window. GO Bus was not timed, and it does run on part of this: a Route 65 bus leaves Union at 6:12 a.m. and reaches Aurora at 6:55 and Newmarket at 7:11, so check the timetable for your station.
How much does the 407 cost per kilometre?
It depends on zone, direction, day and entry time. For example, Zone 7 westbound is 108.79 cents per km at 7 a.m. on a weekday and 50.56 cents per km after 9 p.m., plus a $1 trip toll. Use the official calculator for a specific trip.
How many people commute from Oshawa to Toronto?
The 2021 Census counted 42,720 Oshawa CMA residents with a usual workplace in the Toronto CMA, and about 20,560 of them in the City of Toronto. Those figures come from May 2021, during the pandemic, and do not isolate downtown.
Related questions
- Which communities count for Ontario return of service?
- Can you serve part of your return of service while working in Toronto?
- How long would $38,000 a year take to cover a return of service repayment?
Sources
- GO Transit, Open data (GTFS schedule and fares), read November 2, 2026
- GO Transit, Published timetables
- 407 ETR, 2026 rates and fees for light vehicles
- 407 ETR, Toll calculator
- Ontario, Keeping costs down (Highway 407 East tolls)
- Statistics Canada, GTA: Getting there by automobile (January 10, 2023)
- Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0460-01, commuting flows between CMAs, 2021 Census
- Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0459-01, commuting flows by municipality, 2021 Census
- Statistics Canada, Table 98-10-0002-01, population of municipalities, 2021 Census
- Ontario Ministry of Health, IMG ROS Program Guidelines (dated October 2025, posted at a December 2, 2025 URL)
The offer
Family physician, Bay and College, Toronto.
Compensation
Fee-for-service Family Health Group (FHG), applying for FHO+ next year.
Overhead: 0% for your first one and a half OHIP billing cycles. Then 20% of your OHIP billings (plus HST) at four or more clinical days a week or $30,000 a month in billings. Below that, 25%.
Estimated earnings: $32,000 to $43,000 a month in billings. $25,000 to $35,000 a month after overhead, from OHIP and private fees.
Attachment bonus: OHIP pays you $100 to $120 for each patient you attach who has no family doctor.
Profit share: Builds by about $3,200 a month, up to $38,000 a year, scaled to days worked. Paid by the clinic in June and December, no overhead. Can go toward your annual HOOPP pension contribution.
Paid leave: six weeks a year, building from your first day. A locum sees your patients while you’re away, so nothing piles up.
Professional allowance: up to $5,000 a year for CME, dues and licensing.
Gym membership: paid by the clinic.
About this research
Button Health researched these rules directly from ministry, regulator and other primary sources, and links each one so you can read it yourself. Button Health is a family practice at Bay and College in Toronto that recruits family physicians, so we have an interest in this topic.
This page is general information, not legal or financial advice. Rules change, and your agreement is what binds you.