Your Questions Answered

Hospital development projects are complex and we understand there may be questions in the community related to our project. Below are the most frequently asked questions we've received about our hospital development project.

Don’t see your question answered here? Please send us an email at: redevelopment@cgmh.on.ca.

When will the new hospital open?

Construction is anticipated to begin in fall 2028 and the new hospital is set to open as early as 2033.

Please visit the Project Timelines section of the website for more information.

Why does it take so long to build a new hospital?

Hospitals are among the most complex architectural and engineering projects to design and construct. They require complicated mechanical, electrical, and IT systems, and built-in flexibility to adapt to evolving technologies and demands in the future. In addition, hospital designs must meet or exceed CSA standards to ensure safe, accessible, and comfortable care.

Please visit the Project Timelines section of the website for more information.

What new programs and services will be available in the new hospital?

In addition to the expansion of existing hospital services, the new hospital will include a new inpatient rehabilitation program and expansion of CGMH’s medical and surgical bed capacity  based on the identified need and growth within the South Georgian Bay region.

Through regional partnerships and an expanded Ambulatory Care department, CGMH will be able to bring care closer to home with the inclusion of a satellite chemotherapy unit and new clinics for general internal medicine and pain management. 

How many beds will the new hospital have?

The new hospital will have increased capacity , including up to 132 new beds with 98 total inpatient beds and an additional 34 beds to meet the community’s future needs.

Has a location for the new hospital been confirmed?

The Ministry of Health’s approval of CGMH’s Stage 1.3 submission on December 12, 2024, together with the commitment of land by a generous donor, enables CGMH to take the next steps required to finalize the donation and transfer of a 32-acre site on Poplar Sideroad. This site will allow for future growth and expansion of CGMH over the next several decades.

What happens to the Hume Street site if the hospital moves?

There are numerous possibilities for the Hume Street site. Planning for the site’s future use will involve thoughtful collaboration with community stakeholders, including the Town of Collingwood.

Would it not be cheaper to reuse the existing building and build on the current site?

As part of CGMH's Stage 1.3 submission, a detailed siting analysis was performed to determine the best possible location and building option for the new hospital.

Based on this analysis, CGMH concluded that building the new hospital on a greenfield site would cost less, have a shorter construction time, and allow for future growth and expansion when compared to the option of redevelopment on the existing site.

In addition to higher cost and a longer construction period, it was also identified that building on the existing 12.6-acre site would also negatively impact day-to-day hospital operations and the overall patient care experience in several ways:

Constant congestion, noise, and disruption from construction for over eight years.
Phasing challenges that could result in even longer timelines.
No ability for future expansion as our population grows.
Directly impact our ability to address health human resources challenges.
Major parking issues and the need for a parking structure.

What happened to the proposed inpatient mental health beds in the Stage 1.3 submission?

The proposed inpatient mental health beds have not been approved as part of the new hospital build at this time. CGMH continues to work with its regional healthcare partners, Ontario Health, and the Ministry of Health to seek endorsement and approval to have 24 inpatient mental health beds included as part of the new hospital build.

What are the key steps in the Capital Planning process?

CGMH is following the Ministry of Health's capital planning process outlined in the 2022 Capital Planning and Policy Manual.

On December 12, 2024, the MOH approved CGMH’s Stage 1.3 submission, allowing our hospital to move to the detailed planning phase. Please visit the Project Timelines section of the website for more information.

What have we learned from COVID-19 that will be applied to the new hospital?

Given the COVID-19 pandemic impacts and experience, we acknowledge that much has changed since our Stage 1.2 submission.

In Stage 1.3 planning, CGMH was able to address current and emerging standards arising from COVID-19. All inpatient rooms in the new hospital will be private and will be designed to include the latest in infection prevention and control technology.

Increased airborne-isolation rooms, flexible spaces to address potential surge capacity, and shell in space to allow for future growth to be able to accommodate more beds in the case of a future pandemic have been considered as part of CGMH's new hospital plan.

What will the $95.5 million investment announced on December 12, 2024 be used for?

On December 12, 2024, the Deputy Premier and Minister of Health announced the Ontario government’s investment of up to $95.5 in additional funding to support CGMH through the detailed planning phase. Funds will help transform the project from concept to actionable design, where the physical layout of the early planning stage is realized in preliminary designs that will guide future construction of the new hospital.

This funding will not be used to support construction, operational or equipment costs related to the project.