Source: Canada NewsWire
Image property of Markham Stouffville Hospital
Deb Matthews, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care joined Markham-Unionville MPP Michael Chan, Oak Ridges-Markham MPP Dr. Helena Jaczek, hospital officials and health care partners this afternoon to celebrate the completion of the new patient wing at Markham Stouffville Hospital.
The four-storey, 385,000-square-foot building includes new emergency, mental health, diagnostic imaging and maternal child units, opened its doors to patients on March 10, 2013. Work will soon commence on the second phase of the project, which involves renovating the original building.
In addition to the health-care benefits, the project continues to provide a boost to the regional economy by supporting and creating jobs. At the peak of construction activity, approximately 300 workers were on site daily, with 25 to 40 per cent of the workforce coming from the Region of York. When the project is finished in August 2014 the expanded hospital is expected to employ an additional 875 staff and attract 60 new physicians to the area.
Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care are working with Markham Stouffville Hospital to manage the redevelopment project, which will remain publicly owned, publicly controlled and publicly accountable.
Infrastructure Ontario is a crown agency of the Province of Ontario that delivers large, complex infrastructure renewal projects on time and on budget. Over the last six years, the province has applied Infrastructure Ontario’s alternative financing and procurement model to 83 major projects valued at approximately $38 billion, saving taxpayers an estimated $3 billion. Infrastructure Ontario also manages one of the largest real estate portfolios in Canada, provides municipalities and eligible public sector clients with financing to renew public infrastructure, and leverages its private-sector expertise to manage major commercial transactions on behalf of the province.
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The Regional Municipality of York is located in the heart of the Greater Toronto Area and is home to 1.1 million residents and 42,000 business establishments, making it one of Canada’s largest municipalities and the second largest business centre in the Province of Ontario.
Comprised of nine local municipalities, York Region is a premier business location in Canada. The Region is home to operations of 14 Fortune 100 companies, four of Canada’s top 10 corporate R&D investors, Canada’s second largest Information & Communications Technology (ICT) cluster and global industry leaders in Life Sciences, CleanTech, Financial Services and Advanced Manufacturing.
As Canada’s fastest growing large municipality, York Region has one of the most educated and diverse workforces in North America, the lowest commercial property taxes in greater Toronto and an exceptional quality of life attracting top global talent.
York Region’s local municipalities include the City of Markham, the City of Vaughan, the Town of Richmond Hill, the Town of Newmarket, the Town of Aurora, the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, the Town of East Gwillimbury, the Town of Georgina and the Township of King.