David Orazietti, our $600,000 man

NEWS RELEASE - DAVID ORAZIETTI, MPP

*********************** Provincial Government invests $605,416 to improve condition of Sault Area Hospitals

Sault Ste. Marie - David Orazietti, MPP, announced today that the provincial government is making sure the facilities for Sault Area Hospitals remain in top condition for patients in Sault Ste. Marie by investing in needed upgrades at the hospital.

"This investment of $605,416 will help Sault Area Hospitals keep pace with needed improvements so that it can continue to offer the very best care to the residents of Sault Ste. Marie," said Orazietti.

A total of $60 million in capital funding - more than three times the amount spent last year - will be provided to all Ontario hospitals for projects including:

• renovations to improve the condition and efficiency of clinical spaces, such as upgrading electrical systems;

• structural repairs, including roof replacement and removing mould and hazardous materials;

• upgrading heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and replacing windows; and

• improvements to comply with safety standards and building code requirements, such as upgrading fire alarm systems and back-up generators.

Funding is being provided through the government’s Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund, a new funding method that will provide hospitals with predictable year-to-year funding for renewal projects and reduce administrative overhead. In July, the minister announced an additional $469.5 million in operating funds for Ontario’s hospitals - an increase of 4.3 per cent over last year. Hospitals will receive a total of $11.3 billion in operating funding in 2004/05.

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