Province to Build and Fund New Mental Health Unit at Joseph Brant Hospital

Today, I am very excited to share that our community’s call for better mental health care has been heard and supported by the Province of Ontario. I was thrilled to welcome Premier Doug Ford, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sylvia Jones, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Michael Tibollo, Parliamentary Assistant to the Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Natalie Pierre, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Effie Triantafilopoulos and Halton Region Chair Gary Carr to Burlington for today’s announcement to fund a new mental health unit at Joseph Brant Hospital — a significant step forward for our city. This project has long been identified as the #1 priority by the Burlington Ontario Health Team and many local community groups, as it will provide the essential mental health services our residents desperately need.

This new wing will include an adult outpatient space, improved adult psychiatric intensive care, enhanced child & youth programming, and specialized programs with interdisciplinary teams of nurses, physicians, social workers, and psychiatrists to support complex patient care needs and provide crisis intervention, psychiatric assessment, treatment, and stabilization.

In April 2022, Burlington City Council unanimously passed a resolution calling on the Premier and the Ministry of Health to fund this crucial project. Through continued advocacy and leadership, I am proud to have been part of a wider call alongside Ontario’s Big City Mayors (OBCM), who have been actively asking for more mental health funding and wrap-around supports through our Solve the Crisis campaign.

Thank you to the Province for responding to our community's needs. This funding is a direct result of the voices of those who spoke up for better mental health services, and it will make a real difference for those in Burlington who need it the most. Thank you to Eric Vandewall, President and CEO of Joseph Brant Hospital (JBH) and Barbara Elliot, Board Chair of JBH, for their leadership and advocacy to make this happen. I want to especially thank MPP Natalie Pierre for her tireless work on mental health care for Burlington. I’d also like to express my gratitude to the incredible generosity of Michael and Laura Paletta for their considerable donation to this project. We thank them for sharing their personal story. The new wing will be named in their honour.

We will continue to stand together, ensuring our community has access to the care, support, and resources that every individual deserves.

You can read the Province’s news release HERE.