Ontario’s plan to build a new, state-of-the-art hospital in Brantford took a major step forward this week with a $12.5 million planning grant announced by Health Minister, Sylvia Jones.
The funds, earmarked for the Brant Community Healthcare System (BCHS), will support the early phases of development for a new facility intended to meet the growing healthcare needs of Brantford, Brant County, Six Nations of the Grand River, and the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
In an interview with BrantBlog, BCHS President & CEO Bonnie Camm called the announcement “a critical moment” in the transformation of healthcare delivery across the region.
“This latest planning grant allows BCHS the latitude to identify a greenfield or adaptive reuse site for a new hospital, and to undertake detailed planning for size, services, costs, and consultations,” said Camm. “In short, this is the phase where we go from concept to detailed plans.”
The $12.5 million in new funding builds on a previous $2.5 million investment and launches Phase 1.3 of the capital planning process under Ontario’s Infrastructure program.
This includes functional programming, site assessment, and defining the project’s scope and cost.
Though decisions on the number of beds, square footage, and the final location remain months away, Camm said the new facility will significantly expand BCHS’s capacity and modernize services.
“A new greenfield site is estimated at approximately 50 acres and will have increased capacity based on community growth,” she explained.
The Ministry of Health says the future hospital will feature expanded emergency and intensive care units, diagnostic imaging, surgical suites, mental health and addiction services, maternal and pediatric programs, and new ambulatory care offerings including dialysis and cancer treatment.
Camm noted that meaningful community engagement is essential to shaping the future hospital, particularly for Indigenous patients and families.
“Our efforts to engage and collaborate with Six Nations and Mississaugas of the Credit have been long-standing and are not isolated to this new project,” she said, pointing to the existing Indigenous Health Team and recent additions such as the new Indigenous Family Space at Brantford General Hospital.
“We will consult Indigenous groups on site selection and scope of services, and our Patient Family Advisory Committee— which includes a member from Six Nations—will help guide our work from the patient perspective.”
When asked about current infrastructure upgrades at BCHS, Camm clarified those investments, including repairs to a failed boiler system and utility tunnel, were separate from the new hospital plan and aimed at maintaining operations at the existing sites.
Looking ahead, Camm emphasized that this is just the beginning of a multi-year process.
If all milestones are met, Phase 1 planning is expected to conclude by June 2026.
“This is the opportunity for the community to share their vision for the new hospital,” said Camm. “We ask for their full participation when we identify the opportunities in the next few months.”
BCHS currently operates 330 beds across two locations, serving over 120,000 residents with a wide range of services including pediatric care, mental health, and critical care.
Updates on community consultation sessions and planning milestones will be posted on the BCHS website and shared through public engagement channels.
