$25 Million Investment to Expand Emergency Care Capacity and Reduce Wait Times in Hamilton
HAMILTON, Ont. — The Ontario government has officially broken ground on a major expansion of the emergency department at Hamilton General Hospital, marking the start of a $25 million project aimed at improving emergency care capacity and reducing wait times for patients across the Hamilton region.
The project will add approximately 8,500 square feet of new emergency department space to one of Ontario’s busiest regional trauma centres, which treats more than 50,000 emergency patients annually. The expansion forms part of the province’s broader commitment to invest approximately $64 billion in more than 50 hospital projects over the next decade to modernize health-care infrastructure and improve access to care.
Ontario officials say the upgraded emergency department is expected to be completed by 2030 and will help meet growing demand for emergency services while supporting faster, more efficient patient care.
New Emergency Department Designed to Improve Patient Care
According to the Ministry of Health, the expanded facility will feature several enhancements designed to improve both patient outcomes and hospital operations.
Key Features of the Expansion
The redevelopment will include:
- A larger ambulance off-loading area to improve emergency patient intake.
- A new triage, rapid assessment and observation area.
- An upgraded resuscitation area to provide faster life-saving treatment.
- Additional treatment rooms, nursing stations and staff workspaces to increase patient capacity.
- Improved patient navigation between emergency and hospital services to reduce delays.
- Better sightlines throughout patient care areas to enhance safety.
- Enhanced infection prevention measures, including new airborne isolation rooms.
Provincial officials say these upgrades are intended to improve patient flow while providing clinicians with modern facilities to deliver emergency care more efficiently.
Sylvia Jones, Ontario’s Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, said the investment reflects the province’s long-term commitment to strengthening health-care services.
“Our government is making historic investments in health-care infrastructure to protect Ontario’s health-care system and connect more people to the care they need, where and when they need it,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “We are excited to celebrate the groundbreaking of this new and expanded emergency department at Hamilton General Hospital, which, once complete, will bring vital emergency care capacity to the Hamilton region and help more families access the right care, in the right place, for generations to come.”
Hamilton General Hospital Plays Critical Regional Role
Hamilton General Hospital serves as the regional trauma centre for approximately 2.5 million residents throughout Hamilton and surrounding communities. In addition to emergency services, the hospital provides specialized cardiac, vascular, neurosurgical, stroke, trauma and burn care programs.
The province says expanding the emergency department will allow the hospital to better respond to increasing patient volumes while supporting specialized emergency treatment for critically ill patients across the region.
Monica Ciriello, Member of Provincial Parliament for Hamilton Mountain, said the project will strengthen local health-care capacity.
“Under Premier Ford’s leadership, the Ontario government is delivering meaningful investments in health-care infrastructure to ensure communities like Hamilton have access to modern, high-quality care. The expanded emergency department at Hamilton General Hospital will increase capacity, improve patient care, and help meet the needs of our growing community right here in Hamilton.”
Neil Lumsden, Member of Provincial Parliament for Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, emphasized the project’s importance as Hamilton’s population continues to grow.
“Every day, Hamilton General is there for families across our region when they need it most. This expansion means shorter waits, better spaces and faster access to the emergency care people count on – so as Hamilton grows, this hospital keeps pace delivering world-class care for generations to come.”
Province Continues Hospital Infrastructure Investments
The Hamilton project is part of Ontario’s broader Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, which focuses on expanding hospital infrastructure while improving access to health services across the province.
Canadian construction firm Chart Construction has been awarded the contract for the emergency department expansion.
Over the next decade, Ontario plans to deliver approximately 3,000 new hospital beds through more than 50 major hospital projects. In addition, the province is investing more than $281 million during the 2026–27 fiscal year to support infrastructure upgrades and repairs at 126 hospitals and 67 community health-care facilities.
Hamilton Health Sciences also received $8.16 million through the province’s Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund for 2026–27 to support critical infrastructure improvements across its hospital network.
Tracey MacArthur, President and CEO of Hamilton Health Sciences, said the redevelopment will strengthen emergency services for the region’s most complex patients.
“Every day, the most critically ill patients from across our region come to Hamilton Health Sciences’ Hamilton General Hospital for life-saving, specialized care. Modernizing the emergency department will strengthen our ability to care for these patients by improving patient flow and providing our emergency teams with the environment they need to deliver world-class care. We are grateful for the province’s investment in this critical infrastructure and in the future of emergency care for the people who depend on it.”
Once completed in 2030, the expanded emergency department is expected to provide increased treatment capacity, modernized facilities and improved patient experiences while supporting Hamilton General Hospital’s role as a leading provider of specialized emergency and trauma care in Ontario.