TORONTO –The McGuinty government is improving healthcare services for children by supporting redevelopment at The Hospital for Sick Children, Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman announced today.

"Our government is ensuring that people in all areas of the province have access to the health care they need, and that includes the highest quality hospitals," Smitherman said. "I'm pleased to announce that Toronto will soon have even better hospital facilities to help children."

The government is investing $7.2 million to help The Hospital For Sick Children redevelop and expand its cardiac catheterization lab. This will give young patients throughout the province access to state-of-the-art technology and better care.

"We are delighted the government is supporting our hospital's plan to improve the cardiac care facility, so that the children of Ontario will have access to the very best in cardiac care," said Mary Jo Haddad, President and CEO of The Hospital for Sick Children.

These improvements have been approved under ReNew Ontario, the government's five-year, $30-billion infrastructure investment plan, which commits $5 billion to health care infrastructure. ReNew Ontario is a comprehensive plan to modernize and replace many of the province's hospitals, schools and post-secondary institutions. It will also support the provincial economy through investments in transportation, transit and research and by accommodating growth.

"These capital projects are part of our government's plan to help ensure Ontarians have the highest quality services they need and deserve," said David Caplan, Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal. "For the first time, this province has a long-term plan for building and developing our health care facilities that will bring much needed stability and certainty to hospitals and better health care for Ontarians."

"Our government has a vision of a health care system that will help keep Ontarians healthier, provide them good care when they are sick, and be there for their children and grandchildren," said Smitherman. "Upgrading and modernizing our health care facilities is critical to making that vision a reality."

For further information :

Members of the general public : (416) 327-4327, or (800) 268-1154

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