Preferred Proponent Selected for Women’s College Hospital’s Redevelopment Project

TORONTO - Women's College Hospital and Infrastructure Ontario announced today that Women's College Partnership is the preferred proponent selected to design, build, finance and maintain the hospital's redevelopment project. As the preferred proponent, Women's College Partnership is in the process of negotiating a final contract with Women's College Hospital and Infrastructure Ontario.

This project will involve the construction of a new 400,000 square foot facility on the hospital's current Grenville Street site in downtown Toronto. The redeveloped Women's College Hospital will replace all existing buildings and consolidate most hospital services in one location, enhancing the hospital's stature as a leader in women's health care, research and education.

The construction project will provide a sizeable stimulus to the regional and Ontario economies by directly and indirectly creating and supporting thousands of jobs. Labour will be drawn largely from the Greater Toronto Area.

“This announcement marks an important milestone for Women's College Hospital as it prepares for construction of its new facility,” said the Honourable Brad Duguid, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure. “It is a further demonstration of the McGuinty government's commitment to modernize Ontario's hospitals, so that Ontarians can access the care they need, when they need it, in the most up-to-date facilities.”

“I'm delighted to see the Women's College redevelopment project take this important step forward,” said the Honourable Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. “The hospital's redevelopment will enhance the quality of life and quality of care for women and their families across Ontario that rely on the hospital's specialized services.” 

“We are poised to enter into negotiations with Women's College Partnership as we continue our work to make this extraordinary project a reality,” said Marilyn Emery, President and CEO of Women's College Hospital. “We are grateful for the commitment shown to the hospital by the government and by our community and we look forward to continuing our collaboration.”

The selection of Women's College Partnership is the result of an extensive evaluation process that followed a request for proposals process that began in July 2009. The Women's College Partnership team includes:  

Following successful negotiations with Women's College Partnership, the project is expected to reach commercial close and financial close in July 2010, which will mean that relevant contracts have been signed, a financing rate has been set, the project's costs are finalized, and funds have been made available for the project.

Project costs will be announced publicly following financial close of the project. Construction is expected to begin shortly thereafter in fall 2010.

Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care are working with Women's College Hospital to develop this next phase of the new 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:

Jodi Salem
Women's College Hospital
(416) 323-6400 ext. 4054

Tom Boreskie
Infrastructure Ontario
(416) 327-5246

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