The Ontario government has committed an additional $12.5 million to support the planning and construction of a new hospital under the Brant Community Healthcare System (BCHS), Minister of Health Sylvia Jones announced Thursday in Brantford.
The investment aims to expand healthcare access for residents in Brantford, Brant County, Six Nations of the Grand River, and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
This latest funding follows a previous $2.5 million provincial investment and marks the continuation of early planning for a new state-of-the-art facility.
The new hospital is expected to address growing healthcare demands in the region by increasing patient capacity and improving access to a range of core services.
“Our government is making historic investments to protect Ontario’s health-care system, ensuring more people in Brant County can connect to the care they need, where and when they need it,” said Jones during a media event. “This investment is another important step… for generations to come.”
According to the Ministry of Health, once complete, the hospital will include expanded emergency and intensive care services, modern diagnostic imaging, maternal and pediatric programs, mental health and addictions services, and improved surgical and rehabilitation capacity. New ambulatory care programs will also provide enhanced access to dialysis and cancer treatment.
Early planning, including functional programming and site assessment, is now underway.
Decisions on bed count, square footage, and facility location are expected to follow this phase, with timelines for construction to be determined later through Infrastructure Ontario’s capital project process.
Jones emphasized that it is “a little early to start pegging years,” as the project must still pass through design and procurement phases.
Will Bouma, MPP for Brantford–Brant, called the funding announcement “the actual end to the beginning,” acknowledging the long-standing advocacy efforts behind the project.
“You [Minister Jones] understand… the pressing needs of the Brant Community Healthcare System,” Bouma said, thanking provincial officials and the local BCHS board for their collaboration.
Bonnie Camm, President and CEO of BCHS, described the announcement as “foundational,” noting that the funding enables Phase 1.3 of planning, which includes determining the hospital’s size, location, and scope of services.
“This phase allows us to look into the future, not just for the next few years, but for the next several decades,” Camm said.
She added that all options remain on the table regarding the hospital’s location, including a potential greenfield site. The selection process, she said, will be “open, collaborative, and transparent,” involving the Ministry of Health, BCHS board, municipal and Indigenous councils, and the broader community.
The Brant Community Healthcare System currently operates 330 beds across two sites, serving more than 120,000 residents. The system includes Brantford General Hospital and the Willett Urgent Care Centre in Paris.
In addition to the new hospital planning funds, Ontario has also invested approximately $16 million in infrastructure upgrades at Brantford General Hospital, including repairs to its boiler system and utility tunnel.
Across the province, Ontario has committed nearly $60 billion over 10 years to hospital infrastructure, part of its broader “Your Health” plan to modernize healthcare delivery and add approximately 3,000 new hospital beds.
Brant Community Healthcare System manages 330 beds at two locations, delivering various health services—including pediatric, mental health, and critical care—to more than 120,000 people in Brantford, the County of Brant, Six Nations of the Grand River, and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
