Planning and Timelines 

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.

2024-2026

2024–2026: Building Momentum and Advancing Care

From 2024 through 2026, Made in Muskoka Healthcare continued to evolve as a community-driven model of integrated, accessible care. This period reflects meaningful progress in planning, collaboration, and implementation—anchored by the submission of the 1.3 proposal and the advancement of key priorities across the region.

2024 – Strengthening Foundations and Advancing Planning
In 2024, partners across Muskoka focused on deepening collaboration and refining a shared vision for the future of local healthcare. This work culminated in the submission of the 1.3 proposal, a significant milestone that outlined a more detailed and actionable plan for system transformation. The submission included:

• A comprehensive care model centered on team-based, patient-focused care
• Defined priority populations and strategies to address equity and access gaps
• Plans for improved care coordination and navigation across providers
• Early frameworks for data sharing, digital integration, and performance measurement
• Workforce strategies to support recruitment, retention, and new models of care delivery

This submission reflected extensive community and partner input, ensuring that proposed solutions were grounded in local needs.

2025 – Expanding Access and Implementing Change
Building on the 1.3 submission, 2025 marked a shift toward implementation. New and enhanced services were introduced to improve access to care, particularly for rural and underserved communities. This included the expansion of team-based primary care, increased availability of virtual care, and targeted outreach initiatives. Recruitment and retention efforts also continued to strengthen the healthcare workforce, supporting more consistent and timely care.

During this time, new partnerships were also developed in long-term care and transitional housing, recognizing the critical role that housing stability and supportive living environments play in overall health and system flow.

2026 – Delivering Integrated Care and Preparing for Next Steps
By 2026, Made in Muskoka Healthcare demonstrated greater system integration and coordination. Patients experienced more seamless transitions between services, supported by improved communication and data-sharing practices among providers. Ongoing community engagement remained central, ensuring that services continued to evolve in response to local priorities.

At the same time, the initiative reached an important pause point, with partners awaiting a decision from the Ministry on approval of the 1.3 submission. This approval will enable progression to the much-anticipated Stage 2, where detailed schematics and architectural drawings will be developed, along with a defined timeline for future builds and infrastructure expansion.

Together, these years represent a period of focused action and measurable progress—advancing a sustainable, connected, and community-centered healthcare system for Muskoka.