TORONTO - Contractors bidding on Rouge Valley Health System's Ajax and Pickering Hospital Phase 1 project have requested an extension to the bid submission deadline.

Infrastructure Ontario and Rouge Valley Health System have granted an extension from May 22, 2007 to May 30, 2007 to provide proponents the time they require to complete submissions.

The Ontario government and Rouge Valley Health System are committed to moving this project forward and to bringing improved access to healthcare to the region. Construction is expected to begin in fall 2007.

With more than 140,000 square feet of new construction and renovated space, the redevelopment project will enable the hospital to accommodate Durham Region's expanding population and deliver more effective family centred care for a broad range of health conditions. 

New and expanded services include:

  • A new Emergency Department with increased capacity for 60,000 patient visits per year from 42,000 patient visits.
  • Nine more beds in the adult inpatient area of mental health. 
  • An ambulatory care unit for outpatient clinic visits, a fracture clinic, outpatient procedures, medical day care and pre-admit visits. 
  • A 30-bed Complex Continuing Care Unit for patients who are transitioning from acute care to long-term care or to their home. 

Infrastructure Ontario will work with the Rouge Valley Health System to redevelop the Ajax and Pickering Hospital, 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.

This 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. Rouge Valley Health System's Ajax and Pickering Hospital Phase 1 project is one of many infrastructure projects being upgraded and modernized under ReNew Ontario, the government's five-year, $30-billion plus public infrastructure investment plan.

Visit www.infrastructureontario.ca for more information. 

Contact: 

Terence Foran  
Infrastructure Ontario 
416-325-2939