Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Ontario government says it will invest $95.5 million to build a new Collingwood General and Marine Hospital. The new hospital will be located on a new site and will have 132 beds, including 98 inpatient beds and 34 beds for future needs, says a statement released last Thursday (Dec. 12) from the Health ministry.
The current hospital has 84 beds and serves more than 74,000 residents in Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Clearview and the Blue Mountains. The hospital also serves 3.5 million visitors to the area each year.
The Ministry of Health says it will work with Collingwood General and Marine Hospital to complete the detailed planning and design for the project. A construction schedule will be confirmed after future planning and project tendering and award.
“Our government is making historic investments in Ontario’s hospitals to ensure people of all ages can access the care they need, where and when they need it,” said Sylvia Jones, deputy premier and minister of health. “Our investment to help build a new and improved Collingwood General and Marine Hospital will allow people and families in Collingwood and across South Georgian Bay to have better access to high-quality care in the community, for generations to come.”
This funding is in addition to the $15.5 million the province provided for the hospital’s redevelopment. The new hospital will include enhanced infection prevention and control measures, expanded access to key services such as intensive care, emergency, diagnostic imaging and operating suites, and will be able to meet the needs of the growing community in the future.
This investment is part of the Ontario government’s plan to invest nearly $50 billion in health infrastructure across the province over the next 10 years. This will include building 3,000 new beds in addition to over 3,500 critical care, acute and post-acute beds the government has added since 2020.
“This historic investment in the community of Collingwood and South Georgian Bay will make a much-needed state-of-the-art hospital a reality that will transform health care for generations of families from the birth of a child to palliative care and everything in between,” said Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson.
Michael Lacroix, president and CEO of Collingwood General and Marine Hospital, said the announcement is a “transformative milestone” for the hospital and the South Georgian Bay community. “Our fast-growing region needs a modern hospital facility to match the outstanding care our teams deliver today,” he said. “This announcement represents a pivotal step toward a new state-of-the-art hospital, one that will better meet the needs of our vibrant and growing community.”