Planning and Timelines

Look back to see the Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare’s redevelopment planning journey over the past decade and more.

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2012-2015

Early Planning and Community Input
Starting in 2012, Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) began working with the Ministry of Health on a major redevelopment project. By 2013, we had formed planning teams with our staff and key community members to help shape our future healthcare system.

In 2014 and 2015, we engaged with hundreds of staff and community members through various meetings. Their feedback was crucial in refining our plans. In the fall of 2015, with the approval of our Board of Directors, we submitted our initial proposal to the North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN and the Ministry of Health. We recommended building a single central hospital to best address the healthcare needs of our community. We continued to work with the Ministry throughout 2016, providing additional information and clarifications to support our proposal.

2017-2019

Detailed Planning and Community Involvement
In 2017, we received a planning grant from the Ministry of Health and got the green light to begin Stage 1.2 of our project. This stage involved a thorough review of our options, including the possibility of improving our existing facilities.

We set up a 25-member Capital Plan Development Task Force to guide this phase. This group included a mix of internal and external stakeholders, including municipal representatives. The task force engaged in extensive consultations with hospital leaders, clinicians, and community care providers. They outlined the services MAHC would continue to offer and identified services that could be shifted to community care. They also explored different strategies for upgrading our facilities, such as renovation, expansion, or new construction.

We held nearly 50 information sessions to gather feedback from thousands of stakeholders. In November 2019, we submitted our Stage 1 Proposal, which proposed maintaining two acute care sites and building new facilities in Huntsville and Bracebridge. This proposal shows our dedication to enhancing healthcare infrastructure to meet the needs of our community.

View the Executive Summaries of the Stage 1 Proposal.

2022-2024

Government Support and Continued Planning
In April 2022, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced significant support for our project, confirming the government’s commitment to building two new hospitals. The government also provided funding to help us move forward with planning.

Read the news release and watch the announcement made on April 24, 2022.

In fall 2022, we began Stage 1.3, where we worked on preparing a detailed plan called the Functional Program. Although the original deadline for this was September 30, 2023, we extended it to fall 2024 to ensure thorough planning. This plan will detail the services and facilities for the new hospitals.

Throughout 2024, we’ve been actively engaging with the community and healthcare professionals to gather feedback. We’ve held public town hall meetings and met with physicians, staff, and other stakeholders to address their needs and expectations.

What’s Next? 2024 and beyond…

Designing the New Facilities
As we move into 2024 and beyond, our focus will shift to finalizing the designs for the new hospitals. We will continue collaborating with healthcare professionals, community members, and local officials to ensure the designs reflect everyone’s needs.

Our aim is to create modern, well-designed facilities that address the specific healthcare requirements of our region. By involving a wide range of stakeholders, we hope to build hospitals that will serve our community effectively for years to come.