Niagara Falls council commits $30M to South Niagara hospital project
Niagara Falls city council has committed $30 million in support of the initiative to build a new South Niagara hospital.
Niagara Health made a formal local share request to Niagara Falls city council in December. Councillors voted in favour of the financial commitment on July 11.
“This financial commitment from the City of Niagara Falls is helping us reach our funding goals, and we are grateful that Niagara Falls city councillors have chosen to support this state-of-the art healthcare facility,” said Lynn Guerriero, President and CEO of Niagara Health.
Hospitals must fund 10 percent of the eligible construction costs and 100 percent of the costs associated with the purchase of new and replacement furniture, fixtures and equipment.
The Province of Ontario will fund the majority of the new hospital project, with the local community and Niagara Health responsible for the local share portion. The local share breakdown is based off completed feasibility studies and recommendations by cost consultants working alongside Niagara Health. Payment of the local share portion will follow the opening of the new hospital, and over a several year payment period through tax levies.
“We are very grateful that Niagara Falls city councillors have given their support for our new South Niagara Site hospital. Niagara residents deserve the best healthcare possible, and this commitment from the home municipality will help us deliver that care to all Niagara residents,” said Marylee O’Neill, Board Chair, Niagara Health.
In February, EllisDon Infrastructure Healthcare (EDIH) was awarded the $3.6-billion contract to design, build, finance and maintain the hospital. The project remains on schedule, with early site work underway in preparation for the soon-to-be-installed construction trailer complex, and excavation planned to begin this summer.
The hospital will take five years to complete, with the official opening planned for summer 2028.