New Access Road and Parking Lot Mark Next Milestone  

TORONTO - Rouge Valley Health System's (RVHS) Ajax and Pickering hospital expansion project is gaining momentum with the start of construction of a new access road and parking lot on the site, Pickering-Ajax-Uxbridge MPP Wayne Arthurs said today.

“The site preparation work brings us closer to the day when we will provide the residents of Durham Region with improved health care facilities,” said Arthurs who was on site with hospital officials to celebrate the milestone. 

The construction of a parking lot and access road will ease current traffic congestion at the hospital's Ajax and Pickering site. This is one component of the preparatory work for the main redevelopment project of over 140,000 square feet, which includes renovating existing facilities and features 75,000 square feet of new hospital construction. 

“This project indicates the progress being made to improve infrastructure at hospitals across the province,” said David Caplan, Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal. “It also demonstrates that our government is fulfilling its commitment to modernizing Ontario hospitals and stimulating economic growth.”

“This is great news for the community,” said George Smitherman, Health and Long-Term Care Minister “The Rouge Valley Health System is one of many hospital projects across the province that will help us meet our objectives to provide better health care services for Ontario patients and healthcare workers.” 

“We're a step closer to achieving our vision of a renovated and expanded health care facility that will benefit the staff, nurses, physicians, auxiliary and patients of Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering hospital. We thank the government for its commitment to meeting growing needs in health care,” said Natalie Bubela, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Rouge Valley Health System. 

The Ajax and Pickering project, scheduled to begin in 2007, includes: 

  • a new emergency department 
  • expanded laboratory, mental health and ambulatory care
  • a Complex Continuing Care Unit with capacity for 30 beds
  • the development of Diagnostic Imaging and Cardiac Diagnostic areas 

The Rouge Valley Health System will manage this project with Infrastructure Ontario, a Crown Corporation dedicated to the renewal of the province's hospitals, courthouses and other essential public assets. Ensuring appropriate public control and ownership, Infrastructure Ontario uses alternative financing and procurement to rebuild vital infrastructure, on time and on budget.

All infrastructure projects are guided by the principles in the government's Building a Better Tomorrow Framework, to ensure public ownership of core public assets such as hospitals, schools and water and wastewater infrastructure.

Visit www.infrastructureontario.ca for more information. 

Contacts: 

Amy Tang  
Minister's Office
Public Infrastructure Renewal 
416-325-4048 

Terence Foran  
Infrastructure Ontario 
416 325-2939 

David Brazeau 
Rouge Valley Health System 
416-284-8131, Ext. 4010