The Newmarket Health Centre long-term care home is getting funding for renovations as part of a $5.75 million funding package for York Region infrastructure.
The provincial and federal governments announced the municipality will receive funding toward infrastructure in health care, COVID-19 response, community housing and transportation. That funding includes COVID-19 upgrades for the Newmarket Health Centre, which is operated by the municipality, as well as floor and wall protection replacements.
Newmarket-Aurora MPP Christine Elliott said renovations will also occur at the Maple Health Centre in Vaughan, the other long-term care centre operated by York Region.
“These renovations will help to improve the living environment for residents and ensure the buildings are well maintained,” Elliott said in a June 29 announcement.
The grant is being provided through the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, with the federal government providing $4.6 million.
Other projects getting funded include COVID upgrades at 50 community housing properties throughout York, as well as 25 municipal buildings. The Langstaff GO station and Richmond Hill GO bus terminal will also receive upgrades.
More than $2.7 million of the funding is allotted toward COVID-19 upgrades and health facility renovations, including long-term care homes. The homes will also receive COVID-19 related upgrades such as touchless doors operators, touchless washroom fixtures and new wash stations.
York’s two long-term care facilities were discussed at length in the region’s submission to the provincial long-term care commission in January. The region asked for many changes to the long-term care system, including more stable capital and operational funding.
"New, one-time funding focused on improving IPAC (infection prevention and control measures) is helpful," York's program manager of strategic engagement and emergency management Lisa Cramarossa said. "The province is meeting some of our requests, but (this) doesn't address everything. The region is still recommending the province should also provide ongoing funding on an annual base funding allocation."
York Region Chairman and CEO Wayne Emmerson thanked upper-level governments for the support.
“We have seen firsthand the impact this pandemic has had on the way we do business and how we provide residents with the program and services they rely on,” Emmerson said. “York Region will complete a series of significant projects critical to the post-pandemic recovery of our communities.”
