Investments will support hospital operations, reduce wait times and complete critical infrastructure upgrades and repairs
NEWS | September 9, 2026
DURHAM — The Ontario government is investing more than $22.5 million to support health-care services, hospital operations and critical infrastructure improvements across Durham Region, helping ensure residents can continue to access high-quality care close to home.
The investment includes $19.58 million to support hospital operations at Lakeridge Health and Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, $2.64 million for infrastructure upgrades and repairs at Lakeridge Health, and $296,602 for infrastructure upgrades and repairs at Durham Community Health Centre and Lakeridge Health.
In Durham Region, organizations receiving funding include:
- Lakeridge Health – $19,097,571
- Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences – $3,203,300
- Durham Community Health Centre – $217,279
The $19.58 million operational investment is part of Ontario’s broader $1.1 billion investment in the hospital sector through Budget 2026, A Plan to Protect Ontario, representing a four per cent increase in annual support for the fourth consecutive year. This funding will support Lakeridge Health’s core clinical services, including keeping its emergency department open, addressing inflationary and wage pressures, and reducing wait times for diagnostic imaging and surgical procedures, including MRI, CT, cardiac, stroke, neuroservices, orthopedics and cataracts.
The additional $2.64 million through the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund will support critical repairs and upgrades at Lakeridge Health, helping maintain safe, reliable facilities for patients, families and health-care professionals.
A further $296,602 through the Community Infrastructure Renewal Fund will support facility improvements at Durham Community Health Centre and Lakeridge Health. The fund helps community health-care providers address urgent infrastructure needs, including roofs, windows, security systems, fire alarms and emergency generators.
“Hard-working families in Whitby and across Durham Region deserve confidence that they can access quality health care close to home,” said Lorne Coe, MPP for Whitby, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “This investment will help strengthen the services residents rely on every day, reduce wait times and ensure our health-care facilities have the infrastructure they need to provide safe, high-quality care.”
“Our government remains fully committed to supporting our front-line health-care teams by making the necessary investments to reduce wait times, improve operations and advance crucial mental health services for all residents of Durham Region,” said the Hon. Todd McCarthy, MPP for Durham. “Our community relies on Lakeridge Health and Ontario Shores to deliver accessible and efficient care, and our record investments in Ontario will continue to ensure more individuals and families receive the support they need, when they need it.”
“Our government is making historic investments to protect Ontario’s health-care system, ensuring that more people in Durham Region can connect to the care they need, where and when they need it,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “These investments will enable health-care partners across Durham Region to address priority needs, strengthen operations and continue delivering vital services to patients and families in their communities.”
Ontario continues to make historic investments in health care. Over the next 10 years, the province is investing approximately $64 billion in major health infrastructure, including more than 50 major hospital projects that will deliver approximately 3,000 new hospital beds.
Through Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, Ontario is expanding and modernizing hospitals and building new health-care facilities, making it faster and easier for people of all ages to connect to the high-quality care they need, where and when they need it.
QUOTES
“As our communities continue to grow, so does the need for timely access to modern, high-quality health care services,” said Cynthia Davis, President and CEO, Lakeridge Health. “This investment will help Lakeridge Health meet that need by supporting the services Durham Region residents rely on every day while reducing wait times and improving access to care close to home. We’re grateful to our provincial partners for their continued support as we work together to deliver on our vision of One System. Best Health.”
“This investment is welcome news for Ontario Shores and the communities we serve,” said John Chen, President and CEO, Ontario Shores. “Patients and their loved ones from across Ontario turn to us during some of the most difficult moments in their lives. This operational funding helps ensure we can continue to provide life-saving mental health care and hope as we support people on their journey to recovery.”
QUICK FACTS
- Ontario is investing more than $22.5 million through three separate investments to support health-care operations and infrastructure in Durham Region.
- The $19.58 million operational investment includes $16,376,500 for Lakeridge Health and $3,203,300 for Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences.
- The $2.64 million Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund investment supports upgrades and repairs at Lakeridge Health.
- The $296,602 Community Infrastructure Renewal Fund investment includes $217,279 for Durham Community Health Centre and $79,323 for Lakeridge Health.
- Ontario is investing approximately $64 billion in major health infrastructure over the next 10 years.
MEDIA CONTACTS
| Eric Hutchins, Office of Lorne Coe, MPP Whitby 905-430-1141 Lorne.coeco@pc.ola.org |