Infrastructure to be improved, personnel hired
The federal government along with provincial counterparts have announced investments to boost health care capacity in different parts of Canada.
The federal government has partnered with Alberta for a $33.8 million funding for infrastructure projects that will provide repairs and upgrades to health care facilities in 12 municipalities across the province.
“The Government of Canada is investing in the health and safety of Albertans, creating jobs, and supporting our economy,” said Jim Carr, minister and special representative for the Prairies. “These projects will improve and modernize a large number of health facilities, which will promote healthier, safer environment for patients and staff across Alberta.”
The projects include upgrades in life safety equipment such as security systems and fire alarms in health centres, including in Brooks, Camrose and Ft. Saskatchewan. It also include updates in ventilation, heating and cooling equipment in several hospitals and health centres in Calgary, Edmonton, Morinville and St. Albert.
“Construction on these capital maintenance and renewal projects contribute significantly to furthering Alberta’s Recovery Plan. In the immediate term, construction will support jobs for local workers and provide economics boosts to communities throughout the province. Over the long term, this work will ensure that important provincial infrastructure is maintained, benefitting Alberta taxpayers, families, and patients,” said Prasad Panda, Alberta’s minister of infrastructure.
In March, the federal government and Nova Scotia invested more than $19.1 million in combined funding for six projects that will renovate and rehabilitate several hospitals and medical facilities in the province.
Previously, the federal government added a COVID-19 Resilience Stream to the over $33-billion Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program to help fund pandemic-resilient infrastructure. Existing program streams have also been adapted to include more eligible project categories.
Under the COVID-19 Resilience Stream, the federal cost share for public infrastructure projects is 80 per cent in the provinces, and 100 per cent in the Territories and for projects intended for Indigenous communities.
Through the Investing in Canada plan, the federal government is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada’s rural and northern communities.
As part of the Investing in Canada plan, the Government of Canada has invested over $5 billion in more than 410 infrastructure projects in Alberta.
Ontario
Meanwhile, Ontario is investing $35 million to increase enrollment in nursing education programs in publicly-assisted colleges and universities across the province.
The new spaces will be available for Fall 2021 and Winter 2022 cohorts. It will introduce approximately 1,130 new practical nurses and 870 registered nurses into the health care system, according to the government.
“Our Government committed to ensuring residents in long-term care receive, on average, four hours of direct care per day. To make this a reality, tens of thousands of new staff need to be hired to provide this care — including registered nurses and practical nurses.” said Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, Ontario’s minister of long-term care. “Today’s investment supports our plan to shore up staffing in long-term care and address the need for nurses across the health care system.”
The investment will also support the expansion of clinical education placements for nursing students and personal support worker students in the long-term care sector. It will increase training for clinical experts who oversee students in long-term care placements, and provide additional funding to ensure dedicated supervision time from clinical experts to support student learning in long-term care, according to the government.
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is also investing $334,000 to increase services at the Victoria Hospital in Prince Albert.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) has hired additional respiratory therapists under the funding.
“The people of Prince Albert and northern Saskatchewan rely on the important health care services of Victoria Hospital,” said Paul Merriman, Saskatchewan’s minister of health. “Our government is pleased to invest in the expansion of respiratory services, which also supports the operational plan for the larger Victoria Hospital redevelopment project.”
The funding nearly doubles capacity to about eight full-time respiratory therapist positions at Victoria Hospital and will provide 24/7 respiratory therapy coverage for all acute care services at the hospital. In the short-term, it will also assist the facility with patients hospitalized with COVID-19, said the government.
