NEWS RELEASE
MP LLOYD LONGFIELD
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Canadians everywhere are feeling the impact of COVID-19, on their families, their livelihoods and their way of life. Together, the governments of Canada and Ontario are working to reduce the impact of the pandemic, ensure health and safety, rebuild businesses, and promote job creation, growth and investment.
Today, Lloyd Longfield, Member of Parliament for Guelph along with the Province of Ontario and David Wormald, President, St. Joseph’s Health Centre, announced joint funding towards this project to improve long-term care homes in Guelph.
The Government of Canada is investing $1,500,000 towards this project through the COVID-19 Resilience Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The Government of Ontario is contributing $375,000 to the project.
St. Joseph's Hospital (Special Grouping) - St. Joseph's Health Centre’s project will replace the existing Rooftop Unit serving the North Wing, which will improve air quality for the building occupants, reduce the spread of viruses by improving the air filtration, provide additional control capabilities for heating/cooling the space, eliminate the risk of imminent equipment failure, eliminate the risk from infection transmission and help maximize patient care quality and comfort.
On April 16, 2021, the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; the Honourable Deb Schulte, Federal Minister of Seniors; the Honourable Laurie Scott, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure; and the Honourable Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, Ontario’s Minister of Long-Term Care, announced over $99.4 million in 95 projects to improve long-term care homes across Ontario.
The majority of funding will make important upgrades and improvements to HVAC systems as well as sprinkler and ventilation systems in long-term care homes across Ontario. All residents living in longterm care facilities deserve to live in safe, modern spaces, and these investments will improve the safety of these homes for both residents and long-term care workers.
The COVID-19 stream, implemented in response to the pandemic, allows the Government of Canada to invest up to 80 per cent in projects that support provinces and up to 100 per cent in projects that support territories and Indigenous communities in their response to the pandemic.
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