Shovels in the Ground for New West Lincoln Memorial Hospital

Grimsby – Shovels are in the ground to build a new West Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Grimsby. The Government of Ontario has approved the start of construction to begin on the new Hamilton Health Sciences site following the closing of the project contract between Ellis Don Infrastructure Healthcare, Hamilton Health Sciences and Infrastructure Ontario on April 29, 2022. During the next three years, Ellis Don Infrastructure Healthcare will design, build and finance the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital redevelopment project.

On behalf of the Government of Ontario, Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West, made the announcement today at West Lincoln Memorial Hospital. MPP Oosterhoff was joined at the podium by Sandra Easton, Mayor of the Town of Lincoln; Rob MacIsaac, President and CEO of Hamilton Health Sciences, and other key representatives from the hospital, West Lincoln Memorial Hospital Foundation and West Niagara community.

“After decades of inaction by previous governments, our government is getting it done for the people of West Niagara,” said Premier Doug Ford.

“We’re getting shovels in the ground to build the new West Lincoln Memorial Hospital to ensure people and families in this growing community can access the care they need and deserve, closer to home.”

“Promise made, promise kept – shovels are in the ground for our new West Lincoln Memorial Hospital,” said MPP Oosterhoff.

“I have been advocating for this new hospital for our community since I was elected as MPP in 2016. Premier Ford and the Ontario government, working with local healthcare leaders, are getting the job done. This financial close and the ground-breaking of our new West Niagara hospital is historic news for the people and patients of Niagara. I am thankful to have been able to work with many to get the shovels in the ground for this new hospital, and I am excited to see the project unfold over the coming months, as a modern world-class hospital comes to Niagara West.”

“Our government is proud to be investing more than $40 billion over the next 10 years in hospital infrastructure, including about $27 billion in capital grants,” said Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure.

“This includes Ontario’s support of the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital development project, which moves to the next stage of its development today. We’re now one step closer to bringing West Niagara a new, bigger and even better hospital to serve this great community for many years to come.”

“The pandemic has shone a bright light on the need for continued investment in modern health care facilities designed to meet the highest standards of safety and enable health care workers to provide the most exceptional experience possible for patients and families,” said Rob MacIsaac.

“We are excited about the future of West Lincoln Memorial Hospital as a site of Hamilton Health Sciences and are grateful to the government for its unwavering support to build a modern hospital in this region.”

“The hospital rebuild project has been tirelessly advocated for by our community,” said Jeff Jordan, Mayor of the Town of Grimsby.

It is very exciting to see shovels in the ground, knowing that all of our residents will benefit from this investment in quality of life. It’s a great day for Grimsby!”

“On behalf of the Town of Lincoln, we are very pleased to see the construction of a new hospital that will benefit the residents of our local communities,” said Sandra Easton, Mayor of the Town of Lincoln.

“Each municipality is pleased to contribute to this very important project as timely access to critical care and clinical services is an important component to creating a complete community. Thank you to our colleagues at the province, especially our local MPP, Sam Oosterhoff, for his commitment to seeing this through.”

“This next milestone for our new hospital is a positive development for West Niagara and great news for the residents of West Lincoln,” said Dave Bylsma, Mayor of the Township of West Lincoln.

“We are looking forward to monitoring the progress of this important new build.”

Infrastructure Ontario has awarded a fixed-price contract of $224 million for the project. The new West Lincoln Memorial Hospital will be constructed behind the existing facility, allowing the hospital to remain operational until the new one is built. The Ministry of Health funds 90 percent of the new hospital construction costs. The remaining 10 percent, as well as 100 percent of furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) costs, are covered by the local share campaign, which is set at $50 million.

The campaign is being led by the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital Foundation and its Take it to the Finish Campaign team, with generous support from the municipalities of Grimsby, Lincoln and West Lincoln, and the Region of Niagara. The recent diagnostic imaging investments, including the new Computed Tomography (CT) scanner, will all transfer to the new building when it opens.

West Lincoln Memorial Hospital provides both inpatient services and outpatient services, including emergency services, complex and palliative care, surgery, and maternal and newborn care. The new hospital will have twice the current operating room capacity, boast 100-per-cent single-patient rooms, and be home to a robust ambulatory care program with access to specialists from across Hamilton Health Sciences specializing in cardiac, cancer and seniors’ care, as well as a birthing program.

As a site of Hamilton Health Sciences, West Lincoln Memorial Hospital also serves as a point of access to one of the largest health systems in Canada for patients requiring more specialized care.

The key project is part of the Government of Ontario’s plan, as announced in the 2022 Ontario Budget, Ontario’s Plan to Build, to build and improve hospitals by investing more than $40 billion over the next 10 years in hospital and health care infrastructure supporting more than 50 major hospital projects that would add 3,000 new beds over 10 years.

MPP Oosterhoff was joined by Premier Ford at the local hospital site in November 2018 to announce the Ontario government’s intention to rebuild the facility.