Construction to begin in March 

TORONTO - The North Bay General Hospital, for itself and on behalf of the Northeast Mental Health Centre, has signed a contract with Plenary Health to build, finance and maintain the North Bay Regional Health Centre project. Financial close is expected in the coming weeks paving the way for construction to begin. 

“The North Bay Regional Health Centre will provide a significantly larger general hospital and mental health centre with more services for those in need of care and most importantly, care in our community,” said Monique Smith, Nipissing MPP. “The signing of this contract will allow this project to stay on track for shovels to be in the ground in March.” 

The new North Bay General Hospital will serve a population of 129,000 and expand services to include:

  • a larger emergency department with 32 treatment beds to accommodate over 57,000 patients per year
  • a new consolidated ambulatory care centre to accommodate over 63,000 patient visits per year
  • 275 acute care beds which includes: 
  • a 40-bed mental health unit relocated from the Northeast Mental Health Centre
  • an increased capacity of beds in the Critical Care Unit, from 10 to 16 beds, in the Complex Continuing Care from 10 to 42 beds, and in the Rehabilitation Care unit from 10 to 29 beds

The new Northeast Mental Health Centre will be linked to the general hospital via a shared entrance and several shared common areas. It will serve the whole of northeast Ontario, with a population of 511,000, accommodating:

  • 52 forensic psychiatry beds  
  • 61 specialized mental health beds
  • a client services mall, gymnasium, workshops, psychiatric offices, clinical and administrative spaces
  • outpatient services for the region 

“We're very pleased the project has reached this milestone,” said David Caplan, Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal. “The North Bay Regional Health Centre is a tangible demonstration of our government's commitment to modernize Ontario hospitals and stimulate economic growth.” 

“The North Bay Regional Health Centre is an integral part of improving Ontario's health care system,” said George Smitherman, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. “Our investment will provide facilities that are modern, well-maintained, safe and comfortable for patients.”

“Everyone at the North Bay General and the Northeast Mental Health Centre is thrilled to see we're so close to construction,” said Mark Hurst, North Bay General Hospital President and CEO and contract signatory for both hospitals. “We are looking forward to moving ahead with Plenary Health and getting our hospital project underway.”

The Plenary Health team consists of Plenary Group, Deutsche Bank AG, PCL Constructors Canada and Johnson Controls. 

Infrastructure Ontario will work with the North Bay General Hospital and the Northeast Mental Health Centre to manage the construction of the North Bay Regional Health Centre, which will remain publicly owned, publicly controlled and publicly accountable. Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to managing some of the Province's larger and more complex infrastructure renewal projects - ensuring they are built on time and on budget.

The project is guided by principles outlined in the Province's Building a Better Tomorrow framework, which ensures public ownership of core assets such as hospitals, schools and water and wastewater facilities. The North Bay Regional Health Centre project is one of many infrastructure projects being constructed, upgraded and modernized under ReNew Ontario, the government's five-year, $30-billion plus infrastructure investment plan.

Visit www.infrastructureontario.ca for more information. 

Contacts: 

Amy Tang
Minister's Office      
Public Infrastructure Renewal 
416-325-4048 

Terence Foran  
Infrastructure Ontario
416-325-2939

Pat Stephens 
North Bay Regional Health Centre 
705-495-8127