The redevelopment of the Peter Gilgan Mississauga Hospital is set to redefine healthcare in Ontario. This ambitious project includes a 22-storey hospital with nearly 1,000 patient beds, making it one of the largest healthcare facilities in the province. Despite financial challenges, the project promises cutting-edge facilities and expanded services to meet the growing healthcare needs of the community.
Project Highlights
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Location: Mississauga, Ontario
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Size: 22 storeys, approximately 2.8 million square feet
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Capacity: Nearly 1,000 patient beds (up from 676 currently)
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Estimated Cost: $16 billion (including construction, financing, and maintenance over 30 years)
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Construction Model: Private-Public Partnership (P3)
Key Features of the Hospital
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Women and Children’s Health Centre: Dedicated facilities for specialized care.
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Expanded Emergency Department: One of the largest in Ontario, designed to improve patient experience and reduce wait times.
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Operating Rooms: Increasing from 14 to 23, allowing for more surgeries.
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Private Patient Rooms: Every patient room will be private, enhancing comfort and infection control.
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Advanced Facilities: State-of-the-art diagnostic imaging, a new pharmacy, and a clinical laboratory.
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Specialized Programs: Focus on cancer care, advanced cardiac surgery, and geriatric mental health services.
Financial Challenges and Cost Overruns
The project has faced significant financial hurdles, as noted in a report by Ontario’s Auditor General:
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Scope Expansion: The hospital’s design has grown significantly, with more beds and nearly triple the square footage of the original plan.
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Rising Costs: Increased labor and material costs, coupled with post-COVID design requirements, have driven up expenses.
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Single Bidder Issue: Only one construction bid (EllisDon and PCL) was submitted, reducing competition and leverage for cost negotiations.
Mississauga News reports that the Auditor General found that the per square foot cost of the hospital is approximately 16% higher than similar projects, raising concerns about cost efficiency.
Funding the Hospital
Trillium Health Partners must raise 10% of the construction costs and 100% of equipment costs locally. However, the City of Mississauga declined to contribute $450 million requested as part of Trillium’s local share plan.
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Mayor Carolyn Parrish: Criticized the $4 billion overrun as “an amazing miscalculation” and stated that property taxes cannot cover these costs.
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Provincial Stance: Health Minister Sylvia Jones affirmed that Trillium must meet its local share funding independently.
Benefits for the Community
Despite the financial challenges, the new hospital will deliver significant benefits:
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Increased Capacity: Nearly triple the size of the current facility to accommodate growing demand.
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Future-Ready Design: Prepared to handle healthcare needs expected to grow seven times faster than the provincial average over the next 20 years.
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Enhanced Standards: Modern facilities incorporating the latest technology and infection control practices.
The P3 Construction Model
The redevelopment is being built through a Private-Public Partnership (P3), a model intended to streamline design, construction, and maintenance. However, the Auditor General highlighted issues with this approach:
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Limited Competition: Only one bid was received, reducing leverage for cost negotiations.
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Transparency: Calls for greater clarity in cost estimates provided by contractors EllisDon and PCL.
Timeline and Next Steps
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Design Updates: Final design and cost estimates are expected by 2025.
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Construction Start: Major construction work is still pending.
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Completion Date: To be determined as adjustments to cost and scope are finalized.
Conclusion
The Peter Gilgan Mississauga Hospital represents a bold vision for healthcare in Ontario. While financial challenges loom large, the hospital’s advanced facilities and expanded services aim to meet the region’s growing healthcare demands. For construction workers, this project offers the chance to contribute to one of the most modern healthcare facilities in Canada. Once completed, the hospital will serve as a beacon of innovation and care for generations to come.
