News
Ministry of Health Announces Funding for New Air Handling System at St. Joseph's Hospital
From left: Byron Ball, Vice President, Infrastructure & Quality
and Chief Financial Officer, St. Joseph's Care Group,
Janine Black, President & CEO, St. Joseph's Care Group, and
The Hon. Kevin Holland, MPP for Thunder Bay-Atikokan
On Monday, January 27, MPP Kevin Holland, on behalf of the Ontario Ministry of Health, announced an investment of $17.4M to install four new Air Handling Units (AHUs) and renovate the mechanical room supporting the North and South Wings at St. Joseph's Hospital.
The new system will improve air quality and make the hospital safer and more comfortable for everyone, in addition to being more energy efficient, supporting St. Joseph's Care Group's goals for sustainability.
"Infrastructure upgrades and repairs are a critical part of hospital operations. We are grateful for this $17 million investment in a modern and more energy-efficient air handling system at St. Joseph's Hospital, enhancing air quality and building comfort for clients and staff while supporting our commitment to sustainability by reducing energy use and environmental impact."
- Janine Black, President & CEO, St. Joseph's Care Group
The Media Release below was distributed by the office for MPP Kevin Holland, Thunder Bay-Atikokan.
Ontario Improving Hospital Infrastructure in Thunder Bay
New Air Handling Units at St. Joseph's Hospital will allow hospital to continue to provide high-quality care
Date: 2025-01-27
Thunder Bay - The Ontario government is supporting critical upgrades and renovations at St. Joseph's Care Group through the planning, design and implementation of the St. Joseph's Hospital Air Handling Unit Replacement Project, ensuring families in the Thunder Bay region can connect to the care they need close to home.
"Our government is taking action to ensure that families in Thunder Bay-Atikokan can access the high-quality care they need, close to home." said The Hon. Kevin Holland, MPP for Thunder Bay-Atikokan. "This $17 million investment to upgrade the air handling system at St. Joseph's Hospital will modernize the facility, improving air quality and creating a safer, more comfortable environment for both patients and staff. Infrastructure upgrades like this will help our health care system remain strong and reliable for the people of our region."
Through this investment, approximately 4,000 square feet of space will be renovated, and four air handling units will be replaced at the St. Joseph's Hospital site mechanical penthouse. This critical infrastructure project will ensure the hospital is better equipped to provide connected, convenient care, close to home for families in the region.
As a next step, the ministry is working with St. Joseph's Care Group to complete early planning and design for this project. Once future planning is complete and the project is tendered and awarded, a construction schedule will be confirmed.
"Our government is making record investments to modernize and expand hospitals across the province to connect patients, and their families, to the care they need, no matter where they live," said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. "This investment will allow St. Joseph's Hospital to address priority infrastructure needs to better deliver high-quality care to people in the Thunder Bay region, now and for years to come."
Through Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the Ontario government is expanding and modernizing Ontario's hospitals, making it faster and easier for people of all ages to connect to the high-quality care they need, where and when they need it.
QUICK FACTS
- St. Joseph's Care Group operates over eight sites across Thunder Bay including a St. Joseph's Hospital, two long-term care homes, seniors' supportive living, and live-in and day treatment for addictions, withdrawal management.
- Over the next 10 years, Ontario's investments will lead to nearly $50 billion in health infrastructure across the province, building 3,000 new beds in addition to over 3,500 critical care, acute and post-acute beds our government has added since 2020.
- Through Your Health, Ontario is getting shovels in the ground for over 50 hospital developments across the province.
- The Ontario government is investing more than $228 million this year to support critical infrastructure upgrades and repairs at 129 hospitals and 58 community health care facilities across the province, a 10 per cent increase from last year. This includes over $1,472,893 to St. Joseph's Care Group in 2024-25.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Media Contact
Karson Cameron, Director of Communications
Office of Kevin Holland, MPP Thunder Bay-Atikokan
807-623-6702
karson.cameron@pc.ola.org
