Ontario Investing in Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Expansion
Province Improving Access to Mental Health and Addictions Services
September 7, 2016
Ontario is investing in a major expansion of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), improving access to mental health and addictions services for patients.
Today Dr. Eric Hoskins, Minister of Health and Long-Term Care and Dr. Catherine Zahn, CEO, CAMH were at the centre to mark the close of the request for proposal stage of this major infrastructure project. Infrastructure Ontario and CAMH will evaluate the proposals, and the winning team is expected to be announced in early 2017, with construction scheduled to follow shortly thereafter.
Up to 2 million dollars from the sale of Green Bonds will be used to fund the CAMH redevelopment project. The project will result in the construction of the two buildings at its Queen West site that will integrate innovative treatment, research and education facilities with retail spaces, parks and the surrounding neighbourhood. With approximately 655,000 square feet of new space, the redevelopment will include:
- Inpatient and outpatient clinical services for people with complex mental illness, including emergency care and therapeutic supports
- Research and educational facilities
- Patient and family recreation and resource facilities.
The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health is Canada’s largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital, as well as one of the world’s leading research centres in the area of addiction and mental health.
Ontario is making the largest investment in public infrastructure in the province’s history – about 160 billion dollars over 12 years, which is supporting 110,000 jobs every year across the province, with projects such as roads, bridges, transit systems, schools and hospitals. Since 2015, the province has announced support for more than 475 projects that are helping to keep people and goods moving, connect communities and improve quality of life. To learn more about infrastructure projects in your community, go to Ontario.ca/BuildON.
Improving access to health care is part of the government’s plan to build a better Ontario through its Patients First: Action Plan for Health Care, which provides patients with faster access to the right care; better home and community care; the information they need to live healthy; and a health care system that is sustainable for generations to come.
- This project is being delivered using Infrastructure Ontario’s Alternative Financing and Procurement (AFP) model, an innovative way of financing and procuring large, complex public infrastructure projects.
- Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care are working with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) to build the new facility, which will be publicly owned, controlled and accountable.
- Approximately 30 per cent of Ontarians will experience a mental health and/or substance abuse challenge at some point in their lifetime, with one out of 40 Ontarians experiencing a serious mental illness.
- This project also involves site development work including new roads, temporary parking and the development of therapeutic gardens, as well as the demolition of two inpatient buildings.
“The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health redevelopment project is a great example of our government’s commitment to building state-of-the-art health care facilities, expanding access to mental health and addictions services for people in Ontario. Today’s sign unveiling and close of requests for proposals marks an important next step forward for this major infrastructure project.”
“CAMH is creating two landmark buildings on Queen Street West that will promote the care and recovery of patients with complex mental illness. These state-of-the-art hospital facilities will support advanced research, education and innovation that will change the trajectory of mental health. Our vision is a hospital fully integrated with the community, contributing to the mental health of our city, our country, and the world.”
Dr. Catherine Zahn
“This is an important step forward for this project, and it means we’re getting closer to getting shovels in the ground.”
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