Winning Project Company Announced For Hospital's Expansion And Redevelopment 

The plan to double the size of Hôpital Montfort and improve access to healthcare for Ottawa residents took another step forward with the selection of the winning project company, the hospital and Infrastructure Ontario announced today. 

EllisDon Corporation, which provided the best-value bid, was selected from a short list of qualified companies to build the project.  Financing will be provided by a syndicate led by the corporate finance division of BMO Bank of Montreal, also including Caisse centrale Desjardins and RBC Capital Markets, the corporate and investment banking arm of Royal Bank of Canada. 

The Hôpital Montfort redevelopment will add two new wings and renovate existing facilities - including intensive care, maternal newborn, mental health, ambulatory care and emergency services.  The redeveloped facility will have a capacity of 417 beds (289 inpatient; 128 long-term care) and increase the size of the hospital to 750,000 square feet.  An additional facility for treating members of the Canadian Forces, funded by the federal government, is also part of the expansion.  Construction will commence before the end of the month and is scheduled for completion in 2009. 

"Investing in healthcare is one of the McGuinty government's top priorities," said David Caplan, Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal.  "Hôpital Montfort's expansion is one of many projects underway across the province as our government modernizes hospitals and renews the province's healthcare infrastructure.” 

"Increasing Hôpital Montfort's capacity will ensure people in this community have access to modern, effective healthcare," said George Smitherman, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. "Innovation in healthcare ensures that Ontario has a system that is constantly improving.  Our government's investment in hospitals and healthcare will grow by an additional $1.9-billion to $35.4-billion this year, rising to $38.8-billion in the following year." 

"Montfort's role in providing healthcare in both official languages, and as a Francophone teaching hospital, makes this project crucial for all Ottawa-region residents and especially Ontario's Francophone community,” said Madeleine Meilleur, Ottawa-Vanier MPP, Minister of Community and Social Services and Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs. 

"Today's announcement is a key milestone for Hôpital Montfort and will be a tremendous boost for the residents of Orléans and Ottawa's east end.  Moreover, this is great news for all of Ontario because a strong healthcare system underpins our quality of life and contributes to our economic prosperity,” said Phil McNeely, Ottawa-Orléans MPP. 

“After more than fifty years serving Franco-Ontarians, we are about to turn the page on a new chapter in the history of our hospital and the francophone community,” said Gérald R. Savoie, President and CEO, Hôpital Montfort. “Our bold vision was to essentially build a brand new Hôpital Montfort and now, with construction about to begin, we can truly look forward to that dream becoming a reality.” 

“The Canadian Forces is looking forward to the new facility where its Health Service Centre Ottawa will be relocated,” said Colonel Jean Grondin, Director Health Services Delivery, Canadian Forces Health Services Group.  “The new location will allow us to continue to provide top quality health care delivery to the 9,000 Canadian Forces members who are located in the national capital region and provide a degree of national support from specialized clinics.” 

This project also supports the McGuinty government's plan to build a healthcare system that focuses on three priorities - keeping Ontarians healthy, reducing wait times and improving access to doctors and nurses. 

Hôpital Montfort will manage this project with Infrastructure Ontario, an arms-length crown corporation, under the province's Alternative Financing and Procurement (AFP) program - part of ReNew Ontario, the government's $30-billion five-year infrastructure investment plan. 

he redeveloped facilities, like all hospitals in Ontario, will be publicly owned and publicly controlled. 

Infrastructure Ontario, an arms-length crown corporation, uses private-sector expertise to expand and renew public assets and deliver infrastructure projects on-time and on-budget using best practices recognized worldwide. 

Contacts: 

Wilson Lee 

Minister's Office

Public Infrastructure Renewal

416 325-8735 

Neil Trotter 

Infrastructure Ontario 

416-325-7409 

Gabriel Ahad 

Hôpital Montfort 

613-746-4621 ext 2014 

Canadian Forces

Media Liaison Office

613-996-2353 

Disponible en français  www.infrastructureontario.ca