Ontario is investing up to $47.8 million, or about 90 per cent of the capital costs, in the construction of a new hospital wing at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Thunder Bay. With a focus on mental health issues for residents across northwestern Ontario, the East Wing will offer 38 inpatient beds, outpatient programs, community support services and videoconferencing.

“Our government is making an unprecedented investment in infrastructure to improve quality of life for people across Ontario,” Premier Kathleen Wynne said in a press release. “We are proud to support this infrastructure project at St. Joseph’s Hospital. The new wing will ensure that people in northwestern Ontario can access the high-quality mental health care they deserve.”

This investment is part of Ontario’s plan to supply more than $11 billion in hospital capital grants over 10 years to build adequate infrastructure capacity in the health care sector.