Business View Civil and Municipal | May/June 2022

16 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 5 • The Ontario government is increasing Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare’s operating funding for the fourth straight year. Last year, Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare received $1.7 million in additional operating funding, representing an increase of 2.5 per cent to the operating funding the hospital received the year before. • As part of the government’s over $1.2 billion investment to help hospitals recover from financial pressures created and worsened by COVID-19, Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare received $2 million for 2020-21 lost revenue and $7.7 million to help cover historic working funds deficits. • As part of the government’s $760 million commitment in the 2021 Budget to support over 3,100 additional hospital beds during the COVID-19 pandemic, Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare received funding for up to 23 acute care beds. • To support growing demands on the health care system, Ontario’s investments over the next 10 years will lead to $30 billion in health infrastructure across the province. These investments will increase capacity in hospitals, build new health care facilities and renew existing hospitals and community health centres. “I am thrilled that our government has committed to redevelop both the Huntsville District Memorial and the South Muskoka Memorial Hospital sites and to expand the number of beds and services offered. This, along with fair funding for medium-sized hospitals after years of chronic underfunding, means the people in Muskoka and East Parry Sound will continue to have access to the health care services they need close to home for years to come.” - Norman Miller, MPP for Parry Sound— Muskoka “This is tremendous news for the Muskoka residents, cottagers, businesses and the region’s visitors and even more so for the staff, physicians and volunteers who work so hard to look after our communities in aging, space- constrained facilities. The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the need for redevelopment of both hospital sites and the Board of Directors is absolutely thrilled to receive the government’s support of a two-site future for Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare.” - Cameron Renwick, Board Chair, Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare “This is an exciting day for Huntsville, Bracebridge, all of Muskoka and East Parry Sound. The future of our two hospitals and the healthcare of our residents has taken a giant step forward today. On behalf of the Town of Huntsville, a huge thank you to Premier Ford and Minister Elliot.” - Karin Terziano, Mayor of Huntsville “This is a milestone day for the future of our hospitals and healthcare in Muskoka and beyond. The importance of this historic investment cannot be overstated and I want to thank Premier Ford and Minister Elliot for their ongoing support to make this happen.” - Graydon Smith, Mayor of Bracebridge