Ontario Supporting Local Hospital
October 16, 2024
$6.3 million in additional funding will help people access care, close to home
NEWMARKET — The Ontario government is investing $6.3 million in Southlake Regional Health
Centre to support faster, more connected care for people in Newmarket, Aurora and the
surrounding communities. This funding includes $4 million to help people access surgical care and
$2.3 million to support critical infrastructure upgrades and repairs.
“A vital step in our commitment to ensuring residents can access more connected and convenient
care, close to home,” said Dawn Gallagher Murphy, MPP for Newmarket-Aurora. “With this
investment of more than $6.3 million announced today, Southlake will support the stabilization and
management of their surgical system, maximizing capacity to increase the number of surgeries
performed. The health renewal fund will provide urgent infrastructure needs to allow Southlake to
continue their important work to meet the needs of our community.”
The Ontario government is continuing to make health care more connected and convenient across
the province to ensure patients are provided with the right care in the right place. Through the 2024
Budget, the government invested an additional $965 million to help publicly funded hospitals in
Ontario meet the needs of the communities they serve now, and for years to come. This includes
funding for stabilization and management of the surgical system, with a focus on maximizing
capacity to increase the number of surgeries performed to provide the people of Ontario the care
they need with shorter wait times. Southlake will receive $4 million as part of this funding.
“Our government is continuing to make record investments in our publicly funded healthcare system
to connect families across the province to the care they need, when they need it,” said Sylvia Jones,
Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “This unprecedented investment in our hospitals will ensure
they can continue to deliver high quality care while reducing wait lists and wait times in their
communities, for years to come.”
In addition, the government is investing $2.3 million to support critical infrastructure upgrades and
repairs at Southlake through the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund (HIRF). HIRF funding is used
by hospitals to address infrastructure renewal needs such as upgrades or replacements of roofs,
windows, security systems, fire alarms and back-up generators. These are essential improvements
that will create a safer, more comfortable space for people and their families connecting to care and
services. Across the province, 129 hospitals and 58 community health care facilities are receiving a
total of $228 million through the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund in 2024/25.
Through Your Health: A Plan For Connected and Convenient Care, the Ontario government is
expanding access to key services to provide people with the right care, in the right place, close to
come.
QUOTES
“Southlake is proudly celebrating 100 years of leading edge care, closer to home. This legacy is one
we are proud to continue. This $4 million will help staff, medical staff, volunteers and learners
deliver leading edge surgical care, closer to home.”
– Puneet Sandhu, Director, Surgical and Maternal Child Programs at Southlake
“When people visit a hospital, they are usually aware of the physical space in front of them, but
there is so much more behind the scenes including important building systems. The 2024/25
Healthcare Infrastructure Renewal Fund funding will enable more renovations that will improve the
resiliency of Southlake’s building systems so that patients can receive leading edge care.”
– Nathan Robinson, Director, Capital Development at Southlake
“Southlake is our community’s greatest asset. It’s great to see the Ontario Government making
additional investments in Southlake. Improving access to care and providing the best possible
physical environment for the people who care for those who live here are integral to maintaining this
asset and building a healthier community.”
– John Taylor, Mayor of Newmarket
QUICK FACTS
▪ The province’s $965 million investment through Budget 2024, represents a four per cent
increase in funding for Ontario’s hospital sector for the second year in a row.
▪ Since 2018, the Ontario government has added over 3,500 beds across the province. Over the
next 10 years, Ontario’s investments will lead to nearly $50 billion in more than 50 health
infrastructure projects across the province, adding 3,000 more new beds.
▪ To allow health system partners to address their infrastructure needs, the Ontario government is
investing an additional $620 million over 10 years through the Health Infrastructure Renewal
Fund and the Community Infrastructure Renewal Fund.
▪ The government is also investing an additional $500 million over 10 years for small hospital
projects and community health programs.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care | ontario.ca