FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 19, 2015
Ontario Investing in Niagara Hospitals Repairs and Upgrades
Fund Will Help Hospitals Provide a Higher Standard of Health Care
Ontario is renewing hospital infrastructure in Niagara to ensure patients get the care they need.
Through the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund, the province is investing $4,561,855 for infrastructure upgrades to Niagara community hospitals. The funding will help address critical infrastructure needs at local hospitals such as:
Structural upgrades such as roof replacements and new windows
Upgraded heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems
Improvements such as upgrading back-up generators
Upgraded fire alarm systems and other work needed to address requirements under the Ontario Building Code and Ontario Fire Code.
In the 2015 Budget, the government committed to providing more than $11 billion in hospital capital grants over 10 years, including grants administered through the HIRF. This funding is part of the largest infrastructure investment in Ontario’s history — more than $130 billion over 10 years. This investment is helping connect regions, develop new economic opportunities and improve quality of life for Ontarians by supporting infrastructure projects in cities, towns, and rural and remote communities across the province.
Upgrading health-care infrastructure is part of the government’s economic plan for Ontario. The four-part plan is building Ontario up by investing in people's talents and skills, making the largest investment in public infrastructure in Ontario's history, creating a dynamic, innovative environment where business thrives, and building a secure retirement savings plan.
QUOTES
“Through this investment in hospital infrastructure, we are ensuring that patients have access to care in spaces that are safe, healthy and comfortable. These projects make a real, positive difference in the healing environment, complementing the high quality care patients receive in Ontario hospitals.”
― Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
“The safety and comfort of patients should always be a high priority in our healthcare system and the allocation of over $4.5 million dollars to Niagara hospitals for upgrades to their infrastructure helps to achieve this essential goal.”
― Jim Bradley, MPP, St. Catharines
“These HIRF investments will allow hospitals in the HNHB LHIN to make important facility upgrades that would not otherwise be feasible due to already tight budgets. With the ability to undertake these essential infrastructure projects, many of which are safety and accessibility related, our hospitals can deliver better care and direct more health care dollars towards frontline services.”
― Michael Shea, Board Chair, HNHB LHIN