Nipissing MPP Monique Smith Media Release ******************** It’s yet another exciting day for healthcare in our region as Nipissing MPP Monique Smith and the Honourable George Smitherman, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, together delivered t
It’s yet another exciting day for healthcare in our region as Nipissing MPP Monique Smith and the Honourable George Smitherman, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, together delivered the Ministry of Health approval for the Mattawa General Hospital (MGH) to award the construction contract to Bondfield Construction Limited and to begin the construction of the new Mattawa General Hospital.
“This is a great occasion. The new Mattawa General Hospital is truly a community achievement,” Nipissing MPP Monique Smith said. “The entire Town of Mattawa and residents of the outlying areas have worked tirelessly to move this project forward. The staff and volunteers at the Mattawa General Hospital and the entire community should be especially proud of their efforts to see their new healthcare facility finally being built.” “Today’s announcement is yet another example of how the McGuinty government is building on its commitment to keep Ontarians healthy, reduce wait times and provide better access to doctors and nurses,” said Smitherman. “I’m pleased to be celebrating this milestone with local residents and our partners in the health care field.”
With the approval to award the contract in hand, the MGH will now be working with the successful bidder to have the ground breaking as soon as December 16, 2006. It is expected that construction will take between eighteen and twenty four months to complete and that the residents of Mattawa and area will then have a new state-of-the-art health facility where residents will continue to receive the high quality patient care they have come to know and expect.
Laura Pierce, Chairperson of the Mattawa General Hospital Board responded "We are thrilled to receive this final approval that will now make our replacement hospital a reality. We extend our sincere thanks and appreciation to our staff, community and past Board members for all of their efforts over the years and to our MPP, Monique Smith, for her tireless efforts on our behalf."
“We have waited a very long time for this day and for this next step in the development of our hospital,” Dean Backer, Mayor of Mattawa said. I want to thank Monique Smith for her dedication to this project and ensuring its success.”
Smith stated: "I am so proud to be able to deliver this great news to the community of Mattawa and area. I am delighted that the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care has joined me in recognizing the hard work of volunteers, our health professionals, staff members and this tremendous community which has brought this project to this next phase in its development.”
The MGH was first established in 1878 by the Sisters of Charity of Ottawa and after 24 years of service to the community, was rebuilt in 1902. An unfortunate fire in 1966 destroyed much of the hospital and a temporary structure was constructed in 1967. Incorporated in 1997 as a non-profit, Catholic, bilingual, remote/rural primary care facility, the MGH continues to serve a population of approximately 5,500 residents.
