Lynn Guerriero, President and CEO, and Harpreet Bassi, Executive Vice-President, Strategy and Communications; Interim Executive Vice-President, Capital Planning and Redevelopment.
An artist's rendering of the South Niagara Hospital.
Niagara’s new South Niagara Hospital is being built, and our local leaders have a unique opportunity to champion it.
While construction is well underway, one critical piece remains: ensuring our community meets its local share commitment. Without it, we risk delays, and more importantly, we jeopardize Niagara’s ability to secure future provincial healthcare funding.
Hospitals in Ontario are funded through a partnership: the province covers 90 per cent of eligible project costs, while the remaining 10 per cent — known as the local share — is the financial responsibility of the hospital, which includes the costs of equipment and furniture. For South Niagara Hospital, the local share we are asking the community to support is $230 million, a figure set in 2018 when the project was approved by the Ministry of Health. Even though the total cost of the hospital has risen dramatically, Niagara Health is keeping the local share asks the same. That means Niagara Health is taking on the additional costs and not passing the increases on to municipalities. We are standing by our 2018 request of municipalities, which is part of our commitment to being fair and reasonable, and a partner that can be trusted.
Niagara Region has already committed $44.5 million, Niagara Falls $30 million plus an $11 million land donation, and Fort Erie an initial $3 million. Port Colborne is considering a $6.2 million contribution. Meanwhile, the Niagara Health Foundation has already raised $62 million and counting.
This is a moment for local leaders to step up and demonstrate their support — not just with words, but with action. Every hospital project in Ontario requires a local share commitment. There’s no special exception for Niagara. When municipalities show leadership and invest in their hospitals, they send a strong message to the province that they believe in better healthcare for their residents. This kind of commitment strengthens Niagara’s position for future healthcare investments, including projects like the Welland Hospital redevelopment.
Municipalities that fail to step up now could be undermining their own future healthcare needs. What message does it send to the province if municipalities won’t even support a fully approved hospital already under construction? If we stall here, we risk making future healthcare investments even harder to secure.
And let’s not forget who this is really about. This isn’t just about municipalities or funding formulas — it’s about people. The health and well-being of Niagara residents is what’s at stake. It’s hard to expect improvements in our healthcare system if we’re not willing to invest in the tools and infrastructure that make better care possible. Supporting the local share means standing up for shorter wait times, for faster access to care, for dignity and health outcomes that reflect the needs of this community.
And the impact of this project will be enormous. When completed, the South Niagara Hospital will transform healthcare in the region. It will increase regional bed capacity by 156, and offer expanded emergency care. With its centres of excellence in complex care, stroke and wellness in aging, it will attract top healthcare professionals and bring cutting-edge treatments to Niagara. It’s an investment in better care, faster service and a stronger healthcare system.
We are already seeing leadership from some municipalities, and now is the time for others to join them. By stepping forward, local officials can show the community — and the province — that they believe in this hospital, that they understand its importance, and they are willing to help bring it across the finish line.
Healthcare is not only a provincial responsibility — it’s a community responsibility, too. Investing in this project means investing in shorter wait times, better emergency care and improved access to specialists — right here in Niagara. The cost of inaction isn’t just measured in dollars; it’s measured in delays, lost opportunities and weaker healthcare for everyone.
The South Niagara Hospital is more than just a construction project, it’s a commitment to the people of this region. Our communities deserve a modern, high-quality hospital that will serve residents for generations to come.
This is Niagara’s chance to lead. Let’s work together to make sure the South Niagara Hospital opens with the full support of the community it will serve.
