TORONTO – The McGuinty government is investing in Ontario hospitals to ensure they provide the best care for patients across the province, Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman announced today.

"Our government recognizes that patients can only receive high quality care if hospital facilities are safe and in good repair," Smitherman said. "This investment will help every public hospital in the province keep pace with needed upgrades so they can offer the very best care to Ontarians."

A total of $60 million in capital funding will be provided to all Ontario hospitals for critical or highest priority projects including:

• Work needed to address requirements under the Ontario Building Code and Ontario Fire Code such as upgrading fire-alarm systems
• Upgrading heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems
• Structural repairs including roof replacement and windows, and
• Improvements to comply with health and safety standards, such as upgrading back-up generators.

Funding is being provided through the government’s Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund, which allows hospitals to decide where to invest the money and lets them proceed quickly with projects. This fiscal year, the government has improved the distribution funding formula to provide an increased minimum grant of $150,000 per site for all hospitals. In addition, three new mental health facilities have been added to the list of hospitals receiving funding: the Northeast Mental Health Centre, the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group, and the Guelph Homewood Health Centre.

"Investments in hospital upgrades and repairs are really investments in modern patient care services," said Hilary Short, President and CEO of the Ontario Hospital Association. "We welcome today’s announcement, and we look forward to further investments like these in the months and years ahead."

"Our government is strengthening all areas of our hospitals so that they can better serve patients," Smitherman said. "We’re continually striving to improve infrastructure planning to determine the most economical and efficient way to improve hospital facilities and long-term investments."

Under the province’s ReNew Ontario investment infrastructure plan announced in May, the McGuinty government and its partners will invest $5 billion over the next five years to improve health care facilities.

This initiative is part of the McGuinty government’s plan to build a health care system that delivers on three priorities—keeping Ontarians healthy, reducing wait times and providing better access to doctors and nurses.

For further information :

Members of the general public : (416) 327-4327, or (800) 268-1154

Backgrounder Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund 5 pages | PDF format

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