Doug Ford announces $1.2 BILLION in funding for Ontario hospitals

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced an additional $1.2 billion in funding for hospitals across Ontario on Monday as cases of coronavirus begin to climb across the province once again.

Ford, along with Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy, announced the funding at a press conference in Scarborough.

"Hospitals have been at the centre of the pandemic from day one providing excellent care for our sick and vulnerable, and responding to the various outbreaks without hesitation," Ford said. "Clearly, this additional care comes at a cost, so as a government we must step up and support them. We need to ensure that our hospitals remain viable and are there for people long after COVID-19 has been beaten."

$697 billion, a majority of the funds, will go towards smaller and speciality hospitals experiencing funding deficits. The remaining $572 million will be spent on reimbursing losses from retail reduction, and setting up private hospital rooms.

The announcement comes just two days before the province is set to release its next budget.

"Our government second pandemic budget will focus on protecting people's health, and supporting people and job creators who are continuing to struggle during these tough times," said Bethlenfalvy. "We've been fighting COVID-19 for a year now. Our budget will finish the job we started last year."