Timmins — The Ontario government has announced a major investment to renovate and expand the Timmins and District Hospital’s emergency department, a project that will quadruple the facility’s size and improve access to emergency care for communities across Northeastern Ontario. The redevelopment forms part of a province-wide infrastructure plan to strengthen health care delivery through more than 50 major hospital projects over the next decade.
The expansion, which adds over 27,000 square feet to the hospital’s existing footprint, aims to meet growing demand in the region, where the emergency department currently serves an average of 43,000 patients each year. When completed, the new state-of-the-art facility will be up to four times larger than the existing emergency space and will feature upgraded treatment areas, modern infection control measures, and a dedicated mental health unit.
“Our government is making historic investments to protect Ontario’s health-care system, ensuring that more people in Timmins and surrounding areas can connect to the care they need, where and when they need it,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “By investing in a new and expanded Timmins and District Hospital emergency department, we are making it faster and easier for more people and their families to access world-class emergency care in their community, for generations to come.”
Expanding Access to Emergency Care in the North
The redevelopment project is designed to improve patient flow, increase capacity, and modernize facilities to better serve Northern communities. The new department will include 29 dedicated patient treatment areas, two new trauma rooms, and expanded ambulance bays to improve response times.
A key feature of the redesign is the creation of a dedicated emergency mental health care area, connecting patients with specialized mental health and addictions support while helping reduce strain on the broader emergency department. Additional improvements include larger patient rooms, enhanced infection control systems, and culturally sensitive support spaces designed to meet the diverse needs of Northeastern Ontario’s population.
“This investment in the Timmins and District Hospital emergency department is great news for people in Timmins and surrounding communities,” said George Pirie, Member of Provincial Parliament for Timmins. “By expanding and modernizing this facility, our government is ensuring patients and families can access the emergency care they deserve when they need it.”
A Transformational Investment for the Region
Hospital officials say the expansion will significantly strengthen local health-care delivery and improve the working environment for staff. The project will also create new construction jobs and stimulate economic activity in the region as part of Ontario’s broader strategy to invest in health-care infrastructure.
“Today’s investment in our emergency department is transformational for people across our district and marks an important step in the revitalization of our hospital,” said Kate Fyfe, President and CEO of Timmins and District Hospital. “Through this investment, our emergency department will be renovated and expanded, including the creation of a new, state of the art mental health emergency services unit. The expansion will also include two new trauma rooms, increased ambulance bays, and patient rooms to provide emergency department staff with additional space to treat patients requiring urgent lifesaving care, and cultural-based support. We are grateful for the partnership with the province, our local municipalities, Timmins and District Hospital Foundation, physicians, staff, volunteers, donors and patients, many who have played a significant part in supporting and advancing our much-needed emergency department modernization. Thank you to Minister Jones and the Government of Ontario, and to MPP George Pirie for his steadfast advocacy and support.”
The Ministry of Health is currently working with the hospital to finalize planning details, including design and square footage specifications. Once planning and tendering are complete, the province will confirm a construction schedule.
Strengthening Ontario’s Health Infrastructure
The Timmins project is part of Ontario’s broader Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, which focuses on expanding hospital capacity, improving patient access, and modernizing the province’s health infrastructure. Over the next 10 years, Ontario plans to invest nearly $60 billion in hospital projects, delivering roughly 3,000 new hospital beds across the province.
In addition to the expansion funding, Timmins and District Hospital will receive $1.89 million in 2025–26 through the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund, including a $1.5 million one-time Exceptional Circumstance Project Grant to address critical infrastructure needs.
“By making these strategic investments, the province is ensuring Northern Ontario communities have access to the same quality of care and modern facilities as those in larger urban centres,” said Pirie. “This project demonstrates our government’s ongoing commitment to supporting both the physical infrastructure and the dedicated health-care professionals who make our system work.”
Supporting Northern Communities for the Future
Serving more than 110,000 people across the City of Timmins, Cochrane District, James and Hudson Bay coast, Temiskaming, Sudbury, and Algoma districts, Timmins and District Hospital is one of the most important health-care hubs in Northern Ontario. The expanded emergency department will allow the hospital to better manage increasing demand while enhancing patient experience and safety.
The investment represents a major step toward building a more connected, people-first health-care system in Ontario. Once complete, the new emergency department will not only provide faster access to life-saving care but also serve as a cornerstone for regional health-care improvement — ensuring that patients across Northeastern Ontario can receive the treatment they need, closer to home.
