TORONTO – The McGuinty government is improving access to cancer care and reducing wait times in Ontario by investing in new and expanded programs at five Regional Cancer Centres, Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman announced today.

"We are making these investments because we are committed to waging war against cancer," said Smitherman. "We want to ensure that people in need of life-saving cancer treatment get it as close to home as possible and as quickly as possible."

The $19.8 million announced today is part of the Post-Construction Operating Plan (PCOP) for new or expanded programs at Regional Cancer Centres. This funding will support 13,693 new and expanded chemotherapy treatments, 41,004 radiation therapy treatments, 53,567 additional assessment and follow-up cancer services occurring in conjunction with an approved hospital capital redevelopment project. The funding breaks down as follows :

• Carlo Fidani Peel Regional Cancer Centre (Mississauga) – $11.1 million
• McLaughlin Durham Regional Cancer Centre (Oshawa) – $4.5 million
• Grand River Regional Cancer Centre (Kitchener-Waterloo) – $1.5 million
• Northeastern Ontario Regional Cancer Centre (Sudbury) – $1.5 million
• Northwestern Ontario Regional Cancer Centre (Thunder Bay) – $1.2 million

"We are grateful to Minister Smitherman and the government of Ontario for the operating funding for The Carlo Fidani Peel Regional Cancer Centre," said Wayne Fyffe, president and CEO of the Credit Valley Hospital. "The cancer centre funding has provided our patients with a centre of excellence for radiation treatment nestled in an environment of healing and hope. Thank you on behalf of the patients we serve."

Regional Cancer Centres provide quality care for cancer patients and help create a seamless process for patients as they access services across the continuum of care. Currently, Regional Cancer Centres are the sole providers of radiation therapy for cancer patients in Ontario.

"We welcome this funding announcement for cancer centres," said Peter Goodhand, Chief Executive Officer, Ontario Division, Canadian Cancer Society. "We work closely with regional cancer centres throughout Ontario to help bring care closer to home through our services and volunteer support. This provincial funding will help to make life easier for patients and their families by improving access to cancer care and reducing wait times."

"This announcement builds on the government's significant investments to expand cancer services across the province," said Terry Sullivan, President and CEO, Cancer Care Ontario. "As a result, more patients will receive the cancer care they need in their own communities."

This initiative is part of the McGuinty government's plan to build a health care system that delivers on three priorities - keeping Ontarians healthy, reducing wait times and improving access to doctors and nurses.

For further information :

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

Backgrounder Investing in Ontario's Regional Cancer Centres 3 pages | PDF format

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