Exciting news for the North! The Ontario government is investing an additional $44 million to ensure construction of the new Weeneebayko Area Health Authority (WAHA) hospital remains on track. The funding will support the design and early works construction of the new, culturally appropriate health campus in Moosonee which includes the hospital and Elder care lodge, as well as a new ambulatory care centre on Moose Factory Island. This investment is in addition to the nearly $1.3 billion Ontario has committed to the entire project.

“Our government is taking action to connect people in Ontario to the care they need, when they need it, no matter where they live,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “The redevelopment of the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority is critical to ensuring those living in the Western James Bay and Hudson Bay Coast areas can access care and we are doing everything we can to keep this project on track.”

WAHA serves over 12,000 people in six communities along the James Bay Coast, including Moose Factory Island, which is home to the oldest un-renovated hospital in Canada. The new Weeneebayko General Hospital will be relocated to Moosonee and once complete, will be able to serve the growing community and connect more residents to culturally sensitive program space in a larger state-of-the-art facility.

With this additional provincial funding, contracts have now been awarded to support the early works construction that has started which involves the preparation of the site where the new hospital will be built, including the removal of existing soil over most of the site and replacement with crushed rock.

WAHA’s new health campus project also includes the construction of a new 32-bed Long-Term Elder Care Lodge that will allow Elders to receive the care they need within their communities. A new Ambulatory Care Centre will be built in Moose Factory to ensure residents on the island remain connected to care.

More information.