Ontario Building Better, More Modern Health Care Facilities

Ontario Investing Nearly $2 million in Health Care Infrastructure Upgrades and Repairs in Leeds and Grenville

NEWS December 9, 2022

The Ontario government is investing $1,956,719 this year to support critical upgrades and repairs at hospitals and community health service providers in Leeds and Grenville. This funding is part of the government’s investment of over $182 million provided through the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund and the Community Infrastructure Renewal Fund to 131 hospitals and 65 community health service providers across the province.

Investments include:

Kemptville District Hospital – $1,264,611
Brockville General Hospital – $680,808
Country Roads Community Health Centre – $11,300

“Our government’s record investments in Ontario’s health-care system are helping to safeguard our hospitals and community health service providers for future generations,” said Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes. “I know how important this funding is to residents of Leeds and Grenville, and I will continue to advocate for our community to get the support it needs and deserves.”

Ontario is providing $175 million to hospitals through the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund and over $7.6 million to community health service providers through the Community Infrastructure Renewal Fund. This funding from the province allows its health care system partners to address urgent infrastructure renewal needs such as upgrades or replacements of roofs, windows, security systems, fire alarms and back-up generators.

“Our government is making investments to ensure Ontario’s hospitals and community health infrastructure continue to be state-of-the-art facilities,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “This funding will also help build the capacity we need to end hallway health care and ensure people continue to receive world-class care.”

Through the 2022 Ontario Budget: Ontario’s Plan to Build, and as part of its plan to build a stronger, more convenient and connected health care system, the government is implementing the most ambitious plan for hospital expansion in Ontario’s history. This includes supporting more than 50 major hospital projects that would add 3,000 new beds over 10 years.

“This significant investment to Kemptville District Hospital will support crucial upgrades to its infrastructure,” emphasized Nancy Peckford, United Counties of Leeds and Grenville Warden and Mayor of North Grenville. “We appreciate Ministers Jones and Clark’s commitment to investing in our hospitals that support the region.”

“Brockville General Hospital is a critical and valued community partner where the staff and administration are committed to providing high standards of care to residents of Brockville and the surrounding area,” said Matthew Wren, Mayor of Brockville. “We never thank them enough for their dedication. We appreciate the continued investment by the Province in the modernization of our hospital as demonstrated with the funding announced today.”

“The Ministry of Health and Minister Clark continue to show their support of our community and Brockville General Hospital,” said Nick Vlacholias, President and CEO of Brockville General Hospital. “This investment of $680,808 helps us modernize aging systems, which allow us to provide a better work and care environment for our friends, families, and neighbours. Thank you for investing in our trusted healthcare workers, so they may continue to deliver the safe, high-quality care that our community has grown to expect.”

“One of the many financial pressures hospitals face is keeping our physical plant infrastructure in optimal working order to ensure that our building is operated and maintained to code so that we can provide excellent care to the patients and families we are privileged to serve,” said Frank Vassallo, CEO of Kemptville District Hospital. “The Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund (HIRF) contribution of $1.264 million will be used to replace our antiquated boilers. We offer our gratitude to Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, for this much needed funding. These funds will enable KDH to continue to participate in a stronger and better-connected health care system that offers care closer to home. I would also like to thank Steve Clark, MPP, for his unwavering support and advocacy on our behalf.”

“On behalf of Country Roads Community Health Centre, we are very pleased with the investment of the Ontario government to support upgrades at our Westport location, said Kerri Choffe, Executive Director of the Country Roads Community Health Centre. “CIRF will permit our rural Community Health Centre to complete soundproofing of our Westport site to suppress unwanted sound and further protect client privacy while receiving care.”

“Country Roads Community Health Centre provides primary care to hundreds of local residents,” said Robin Jones, Mayor of the Village of Westport. “Today’s announcement by the Ontario Government for additional funding under the Ministry of Health’s Community Infrastructure Renewal Fund is timely and appreciated by everyone.”

QUICK FACTS

To support growing demands on the health care system, Ontario’s investments over the next 10 years will lead to $40 billion in health infrastructure across the province. These investments will increase capacity in hospitals, build new health care facilities and renew existing hospitals and community health centres.
Community health facilities are publicly funded and provide a range of programs to patients across the province, including primary care, community mental health and addictions services, allied health care such as physical therapy and respiratory therapy, and programs and services delivered by a public health unit.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

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Media Contact:

Erin Merkley

Constituency Assistant

613-342-9522