Infrastructure Ontario and Lakeridge Health (LH) announced today that the hospital network has signed a contract with Aecon Buildings and Concessions, divisions of Aecon Group Inc. (Aecon), to build and finance the LH Oshawa hospital redevelopment project. Financial close signals that all contractual steps have been completed and construction can begin.
The redevelopment project will increase capacity in a number of inpatient areas, including medical/surgical, dialysis, birthing and paediatrics, rehabilitation and child, adolescent and adult mental health. As well, the hospital will be able to accommodate additional surgical cases, emergency and ambulatory visits.
The building team, led by Aecon, includes financing arranged by Stonebridge Financial Corporation. The contract commits the Aecon team to build and finance the redevelopment project for $91.5 million which will be paid by the hospital when construction is completed. Construction will begin in February and will be completed in spring 2011. At the peak of construction, there will be more than 300 workers on site daily. Aecon is committed to using local trades as much as possible.
Lakeridge Health will continue to operate and maintain the facility.
“This marks an important milestone for Lakeridge Health,” said George Smitherman, Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure. “This redevelopment project will provide residents of Oshawa and the surrounding area with a wider range of health care services in a larger facility.”
“This is incredible news for our patients, staff, physicians, volunteers and our community. On behalf of every one of them, I would like to thank the provincial government for their support of this important building project,” said Doug Allingham, Chair of Lakeridge Health's Board of Trustees. “This investment by the government and the donors to the Oshawa Hospital Foundation will be instrumental in this expansion of patient care services and welcome news to our community,” added Kevin Empey, President and CEO of Lakeridge Health.
“Our businesses and community have always generously supported our hospital and the important services it provides,” said Chuck Powers, Chair of the Oshawa Hospital Foundation. “And in these challenging times when healthcare will be called upon even more, I am confident our donors will be there again for our patients,” added Jim Szeman, the Foundation's CEO.
Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care are working with Lakeridge Health Corporation to redevelop and expand the Oshawa hospital, which will remain publicly owned, publicly controlled and publicly accountable. Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to managing some of the province's larger and more complex infrastructure renewal projects - ensuring they are built on time and on budget.
Visit www.infrastructureontario.ca for more information.
Contacts:
Amy Tang
Minister's Office
Energy and Infrastructure
416-327-6747
Terence Foran
Infrastructure Ontario
416-325-2939
Leigh Winn-Kruck
Lakeridge Health
905-576-8711, Ext. 4317
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