June 3, 2006

MATTAWA - The McGuinty government is improving health care services for the people of Mattawa and the surrounding area by giving the go ahead to build a new Mattawa General Hospital, MPP Monique Smith announced today on behalf of Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman.

“We’re on the side of Ontario families who want and deserve the very best health care,” Smith said. “Our government is ensuring that people in all areas of the province have access to the health care they need, and that includes the highest quality local hospitals. I’m pleased to announce that Mattawa area residents will soon have a modern, state-of-the-art facility to serve their needs.”

This commitment will allow the hospital to advance its project to construct a new 19-bed acute and chronic care facility.  This means patients will have greater access to complex and acute care as well as 24 hour emergency services in a modern environment.

Construction of Mattawa General Hospital’s project is slated to begin in 2006-2007.

“Our government has a vision of a health care system that will help keep Ontarians healthier, get them good care when they are sick, and that will be there for their children and grandchildren,” said Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman. “Upgrading and modernizing our hospitals is critical to making that vision a reality.”

Mattawa General Hospital’s capital project will be cost-shared between the government and the hospital.  It is one of several hospital projects approved under ReNew Ontario, the government’s five-year, $30 billion infrastructure investment plan, including $5 billion for health care infrastructure. 

 ReNew Ontario is a comprehensive plan to modernize and replace many of the province’s hospitals, schools and post-secondary institutions.  It will also support the provincial economy through investments in transportation, transit and research and by accommodating growth.

“Today is a wonderful day for Mattawa and surrounding communities and the district of Nipissing,” said Laura Pierce, Board Chair of the Mattawa General Hospital. “We are delighted that the McGuinty government is supporting our strategic role in providing critical access to health care with a new replacement hospital.”

“The ReNew Ontario plan will make it possible for many hospitals to undertake much-needed capital improvements to facilities that, across Ontario, average 43 years old,” said Hilary Short, President and CEO of the Ontario Hospital Association. “We welcome today’s important investment at Mattawa General Hospital, and we look forward to further investments like these in the months and years ahead.”

“This hospital capital project is part of our government’s plan to help ensure Ontarians have the high quality services they need and deserve,” said David Caplan, the Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal. “For the first time, this province has a long-term plan for building and developing our hospitals that will bring much needed stability and certainty to hospitals and better health care for Ontarians.”

This is just the latest example of how the McGuinty government is on the side of Ontario families when it comes to providing quality hospital care. Other initiatives include:

• Investing $1.8 billion in additional operating funding to all Ontario hospitals over the next three years
• Reducing wait times for five key health care services (hip and knee joint replacement, cataract surgeries, MRI exams, cancer surgeries and cardiac procedures) with a recent investment of $222.5 million
• >Issuing Requests for Proposals for 11 new hospital projects in 2006/07 worth $2 billion.

Today’s initiative is part of the McGuinty government’s plan for innovation in public health, building a 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

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