​BRAMPTON, ON (March 24, 2021) – The City of Brampton welcomes today’s budget announcement from the Provincial government to fund the expansion of William Osler Health System’s Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health and Wellness into a new hospital and provide financial support for the development of a new institute of medical education in Brampton in partnership with Ryerson University.

Expansion of Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health and Wellness into a full hospital 

Currently, Peel Memorial is an urgent care centre that provides a range of day procedures and outpatient services. To support the transformation of Peel Memorial into a new hospital, the Province will fund the construction of over 250 net new beds at the site. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2023. The Province is also providing up to $18 million in 2021-22 to expand the urgent care centre to 24/7 operations, paving the way for an eventual emergency department as Peel Memorial expands into an inpatient hospital.

On January 22, 2020, the City of Brampton declared a health care emergency and launched its advocacy campaign, “Fair Deal for Brampton” – requesting additional funding from the Province to bridge Brampton’s health care gap; including the completion of Phase II of Peel Memorial (24/7 Emergency Department and additional beds) and a third health care facility in Brampton.

New Postsecondary Education and Skills Training Opportunities

The City welcomes the expansion of more postsecondary opportunities, including a medical institute at Ryerson University. This announcement and the expansion of Peel Memorial helps address the health care emergency in Brampton and will ensure that the next generation of health care practitioners can train locally in the city.

Today’s Provincial announcement complements City Council’s pursuit of a Brampton University and work completed to date on bringing a full university to Brampton.

New School and Child Care Spaces

The Provincial budget also provides a new English elementary school in Brampton that will serve 850 students and include a child care centre with 73 licensed child care spaces.

Budget Advocacy

The City of Brampton presented the Province with a formal 2021 budget submission in February, advocating for key priorities, including: health care, transit, infrastructure and postsecondary education opportunities.
 
Prior to today’s budget, the City welcomed the announcement of $15M in additional funding to support municipal transit systems in addressing the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The extended funding through the Safe Restart Agreement until the end of 2021 is a positive development, and one that Brampton advocated for through the City’s 2021 budget submission. The City also received $14.6M as part of the $500M announcement to help municipalities address ongoing COVID-19 operating costs.


Quotes

“Funding from our Provincial partners is critical to Brampton’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and we are thankful for today’s announcement of a second hospital in Brampton through Phase II of Peel Memorial and the development of a new institute of medical education in downtown Brampton. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified Brampton’s critical need for timely and equitable health care funding.”
- Patrick Brown, Mayor, City of Brampton

“As one of Canada’s fast-growing and youngest cities, expanding postsecondary opportunities for our youth and addressing the health care funding gap are key priorities. City staff have actively advanced Council’s advocacy to secure today’s announcement of Phase II of Peel Memorial Hospital and additional postsecondary opportunities through a new medical school. We are committed to ensuring that the health and wellbeing, and education opportunities for Brampton residents are realized.”
- David Barrick, Chief Administrative Officer, City of Brampton

“This is welcome news for Osler and the community, and we thank the Ontario Government along with local elected officials, community members and other supporters for making health care and hospital expansion in Brampton a priority. Continued planning for the expansion of our Peel Memorial site will enable us to move forward with creating additional hospital capacity to meet the needs of the fast-growing region, and will complement the exceptional care already being provided at Osler’s Peel Memorial Centre for Integrated Health and Wellness.”
- Dr. Naveed Mohammad, President and Chief Executive Officer, William Osler Health System

“Ryerson is excited with today’s announcement in the Ontario Budget that commits to the development of a new institute of medical education in Brampton and expansion of Brampton’s local health care system. We look forward to working with the City to increase our postsecondary offerings and delivering high quality education opportunities for the next generation.”
- Dr. Mohamed Lachemi, President and Vice-Chancellor, Ryerson University

​Links
• Ontario's Action Plan: Protecting People's Health and Our Economy Supporting New Hospital in Brampton
• Brampton advocates for fair Federal and Provincial funding to drive change and secure the City’s future
• Fair Deal for Brampton
• Brampton City Council declares a Health Care Emergency

*Please note: this media release was updated March 27, 2021 to reflect details from the Province's March 26, 2021 announcement.

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