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Province provides funding to improve surgical procedures and wait times

November 5, 2026   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

The province will be providing up to $329,000 in Simcoe-Grey to improve access to life-saving surgical procedures at Stevenson Memorial Hospital in Alliston and Collingwood General and Marine Hospital in Collingwood.

This is part of a province-wide investment of $381 million annually as part of a four per cent increase in hospital funding.

The announcement was made by Brian Saunderson, MPP for Simcoe-Grey, on Thursday, Oct. 29.

“Timely access to surgery can make a significant difference in a patient’s health and quality of life,” MPP Saunderson said. “This additional funding will help both of our incredible local hospitals increase surgical capacity, reduce wait times, and ensure more patients receive the care they need, closer to home. I want to thank the dedicated health-care professionals who work tirelessly to provide exceptional care to people and families across Simcoe-Grey.”

This investment is part of the more than $1.1 billion in additional hospital funding for 2026-27.

It includes $331 million in base funding to update funding rates for select volume-funded programs such as cancer surgery, systemic treatment, radiation treatment, adult and pediatric surgery, chronic kidney disease, cardiac, and stroke.

It also includes up to $50 million in one-time funding to reduce wait times for select globally-funded programs, such as ear, nose and throat, plastic and reconstructive, gynecologic, thoracic, urologic, oral and maxillofacial.

Stevenson Memorial Hospital will receive $20,300 in annual base funding for volume-funded programs and $100,700 in one-time funding for globally funded programs.

Collingwood General and Marine Hospital will receive $123,900 in annual base funding for volume-funded programs and $85,000 in one-time funding for globally funded programs.

“Our government is making record investments to protect Ontario’s health-care system and connect people to the care they need, when they need it,” said Sylvia Jones, deputy premier and minister of health. “Through these additional investments, we are providing Ontario’s hospitals with the support they need so they can deliver life-saving surgeries and high-quality care for the people of Ontario.”

Over the next 10 years, Ontario is investing approximately $64 billion in major health infrastructure. This is part of the government’s plan to get shovels in the ground on more than 50 major hospital projects across the province, which will deliver approximately 3,000 new hospital beds to enhance access to quality care and build a connected, people-first health-care system.

“This investment will help Stevenson Memorial Hospital provide more patients with timely access to surgical care close to home,” said Deepak Sharma, president and CEO of Stevenson Memorial Hospital. “Reducing wait times and strengthening access to high-quality care are important priorities for our hospital and our community. We are very appreciative of the province’s continued investment in local healthcare.” 

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