7 November 2025
Little Current & Mindemoya, ON — Manitoulin Health Centre welcomes the provincial government’s announcement of targeted hospital funding as part of Ontario’s 2025 Budget and thanks the Government of Ontario and the MPP for Algoma–Manitoulin, Bill Rosenburg for recognizing the unique pressures faced by small, northern, and rural hospitals.
Through this funding announcement, Manitoulin Health Centre will receive approximately $1.3 million as part of the province’s 1% targeted investment aimed at addressing structural challenges within the hospital sector. This funding is a meaningful and appreciated step that will help support stability, planning, and the protection of core services for patients and families on Manitoulin Island.
“We are grateful for this investment and for the acknowledgment that small and northern hospitals face distinct and ongoing pressures,” said Paula Fields, CEO & President of Manitoulin Health Centre. “This funding will help us maintain essential services and plan more sustainably. At the same time, continued and predictable investment is critical to ensuring we can recruit and retain staff, maintain infrastructure, and meet the growing health care needs of our community.”
As a rural and island-based hospital system serving a geographically dispersed population, Manitoulin Health Centre continues to face challenges related to workforce shortages, aging infrastructure, and the rising cost of delivering care. While welcomed, MHC notes that this funding represents an important first step—not a final solution.
“Keeping care close to home is fundamental to the health and well-being of residents,” said Dennis McGregor, Chair of the Manitoulin Health Centre Board of Directors. “Our communities depend on local access to care. Ongoing investment is not optional—it is necessary to sustain services, reduce patient displacement, and ensure our hospitals remain strong for generations to come.”
Manitoulin Health Centre looks forward to continued collaboration with the province, regional health partners, and community leaders to build on this investment and advance long-term solutions that reflect the realities of rural and northern health care delivery.
