MPP Rickford Announces Ontario’s Investment in Lake of the Woods District Hospital

September 13, 2023

Province investing over $1M in Lake of the Woods District Hospital Emergency Department and infrastructure upgrades

KENORA — The Ontario government is improving hospital and community care by investing $1,057,051 in the Lake of the Woods District Hospital to support critical upgrades and repairs. This funding is part of the government’s investment of over $208 million provided through the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund and the Community Infrastructure Renewal Fund to 131 hospitals and 58 community health facilities across the province.

“Our government understands the importance of accessing top quality health care, when and where you need it,” said Greg Rickford, Member of Provincial Parliament for Kenora – Rainy River. “Our investments through the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund ensures that Lake of the Woods District Hospital has the supports needed to complete Emergency Department renovations and infrastructure upgrades, thereby improving the overall patient experience.”

“Ensuring Ontario’s hospitals and community health facilities have the infrastructure in place to deliver the high-quality care patients expect and deserve is a priority for our government,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “This year’s increased funding will help these facilities address priority renewal needs while ensuring people can continue to receive the world-class care they need in a safe and comfortable environment.”

With Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the province is moving quickly to expand and modernize Ontario’s hospitals to ensure patients and their families are able to connect to the quality care they need, when they need it, closer to home.

Quick Facts

  • This year, Ontario has increased the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund by over 14 per cent and the Community Infrastructure Renewal Fund by over 10 per cent.
  • 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.
  • Ontario’s investments over the next 10 years will lead to nearly $50 billion in health infrastructure across the province.
  • As of the end of 2022, Ontario approved 50 hospital development projects that will build more than 3,000 new hospital beds in communities across the province over the next 10 years.
  • As of the end of 2022, Ontario has approved 50 hospital development projects that will create more than 3,000 new hospital beds in communities across the province by 2032.

Quotes

“This Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund from the province of Ontario is essential to maintaining our operations. Lake of the Woods Hospital is now able complete renovations to the Emergency Department, LWDH’s busiest and most congested service. The Emergency Department renovations will improve patient flow and service by creating more patient care spaces and improving the waiting room, staff, and physician work areas. The remaining of the funding will be used for upgrades to mechanical, electrical, plumbing systems and urgent roof repairs.”

– Ray Racette, President and CEO of Lake of the Woods District Hospital

Additional Resources