More long term care beds for northern Ontario.
The Minister responsible, Paul Calandra, has announced the approval of six projects, including 22 new beds for Atikokan General Hospital.
It will bring 128 new and 100 upgraded beds to six communities.
Calandra says the projects are part of several others already underway.
“In total, there are 3,226 new and upgraded long term care beds in development in Northern Ontario,” says Calandra.
The province is also committing $45 million to increase staffing levels and promising to increase inspections by hiring more inspectors.
“We have a plan to fix long term care and to ensure Ontario seniors get the quality of care they need and deserve both now and in the future,” says Calandra.
The announcements come as welcome news to Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association President Wendy Landry.
“You know we have to give them (seniors) the care and the service that they deserve. This new announcement of 27,000 new workers, the money that’s being put forward, the new beds in northern Ontario, is a great welcome to what we’ve been asking for,” says Landry.
Construction of the new projects is to begin between this fall and next.
