CTC to be built on new hospital site: Bountrogianni

The new children's treatment centre will be built on the site of the North Bay Regional Health Centre.

A provincial minister confirmed the fact during Question Period in the Ontario Legislative Assembly Wednesday.

Here is the exchange, as recorded by Hansard:

Ms Monique M. Smith (Nipissing):
My question is for the Minister of Children and Youth Services. This past July, my constituents and I were delighted to have you visit our community. You had the opportunity to visit a number of local agencies, including West Ferris day care centre and our Nipissing Early Years Centre, and you met with many front-line workers whose daily efforts make a real difference in the lives of children and youth in the North Bay area.

During your visit, you announced that North Bay will be receiving a portion of the $24 million that our government has allocated for children's treatment centres across the province in this year's budget. Minister, could you give the House details regarding the new funding for the children's treatment services in North Bay and area?

Hon Marie Bountrogianni (Minister of Children and Youth Services, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration):
I'd like to thank the honourable member for the question and for her tenacity in representing her constituents in North Bay, particularly children and their families. I'm pleased to say that our government has allocated $7.4 million in capital funding to build a new facility to house a children's treatment centre in North Bay, a region that badly needs one. The new Northern Shores treatment centre will serve Muskoka, Parry Sound and Nipissing.

Ms Smith:
Thank you, Minister. That's very good news indeed for my area.

Over the past 20 years or so, there have been promises about establishing this children's treatment centre, and many headlines, many pictures and many large cheques with Premiers of the day, but never money to build and operate it. I want to thank you for your efforts in making this project finally come to fruition.

Minister, I would like to clarify one issue in particular. There has been some question about the site for this new facility in our area. Has your ministry established where the Northern Shores children's treatment centre will be located in North Bay?

Hon Mrs Bountrogianni:
I can confirm to the honourable member that the facility will be built on the site of the future North Bay Regional Health Centre. A letter will be sent very shortly to confirm this and the funding that we are providing. The health of Ontario's children is a key priority of this government and my ministry, and we believe that children's treatment centres provide valuable services to children, youth and their families. We are very proud to be providing $24 million in capital funding over four years to expand and upgrade the CTCs, and we're working very hard to provide better services for children and youth across the province.