NEWS RELEASE
MPP LIZ SANDALS
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Ontario is investing in hospitals to improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gases and redirect savings into patient care across the province.
Today, Liz Sandals, MPP for Guelph, was at Guelph General Hospital, to announce the Hospital Energy Efficiency Program. This program will help hospitals save energy and encourage the use of more renewable energy technologies.
Guelph General Hospital is receiving $951,000 in funding for two energy-efficiency projects;
- North Wellington Health Care Corporation – Mount Forest Louise Marshall site is receiving $140,000 in funding for two energy-efficiency projects; and
- St. Joseph’s Health Care - Guelph is receiving $529,000 in funding for one energy-efficiency project.
This year, Ontario is funding 180 projects at 98 hospitals across the province, including 117 heating, ventilation and air conditioning projects, 35 lighting projects and 28 projects that address other energy efficiency needs at hospitals.
As a result of these and other improvements, almost five megatons of carbon dioxide equivalent gases are expected to be eliminated from the environment by 2050, the equivalent to taking about 40,000 vehicles off our roads. By 2020-21, it is estimated that we can generate over $60 million in annual energy-related savings and sustain those savings on an annual basis for 20 years.
This program is an initiative of the Climate Change Action Plan and uses proceeds from Ontario’s carbon market to modernize facilities such as hospitals, universities, and heritage buildings.
Improving patient care at hospitals across the province is part of Ontario’s plan to create fairness and opportunity during this period of rapid economic change.
The plan includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25 through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation.
Quotes
“The Hospital Energy Efficiency Program is another example of the government’s commitment to reducing the environmental impact of our health care system. These new investments will help ensure hospitals can focus on helping patients get timely access to appropriate, high-quality health care within a sustainable system.” - Dr. Eric Hoskins, minister of Health and Long-Term Care
“Ontario’s actions to help hospitals fight climate change and improve energy efficiency will reduce greenhouse gas pollution, increase patient comfort and redirect savings into patient care across the province. Our Climate Change Action Plan and carbon market are working together to help reduce greenhouse gas pollution and save energy costs while ensuring a cleaner, healthier and more prosperous low-carbon future for all Ontarians.” - Chris Ballard, minister of the Environment and Climate Change
“I am delighted that as part of our government’s Climate Change Action Plan, Guelph General Hospital, North Wellington Health Care Corporation, and St. Joseph’s Health Care are receiving significant funds to improve their energy efficiency. This initiative will not only help to save energy, it will also improve our environment by reducing the emission of greenhouse gases into our communities.”
— Liz Sandals, MPP for Guelph
"High quality facilities are essential to delivering the best patient experience. These investments in our hospitals means patients will continue to receive care in modern facilities, while resources can continue to be directed to providing essential care" - Bruce Lauckner, CEO, Waterloo Wellington LHIN
Quick facts
- Ontario is investing $64 million this year in the Hospital Energy Efficiency Program.
- As part of the 2017 Budget, Ontario is also spending an additional $9 billion for new hospital projects, bringing the total planned investment in hospital infrastructure to more than $20 billion over the next 10 years.
- Ontario is making the largest investment in hospitals, schools, public transit, roads and bridges in the province's history – more than $190 billion in public infrastructure over 13 years, starting in 2014-15. To learn more about what's happening in your community, go here.
- The Climate Change Action Plan and carbon market form the backbone of Ontario's strategy to cut greenhouse gas pollution to 15 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020, 37 per cent by 2030 and 80 per cent by 2050. The government will report on the plan's implementation annually and review the plan at least every five years.
- Ontario’s carbon market proceeds will be invested into projects that help families lower their energy costs and save money.
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