$1.8 Million Increase in Funding to Expand Local Pediatric Services

January 25, 2024

Ontario connecting children and youth in Nipissing to care close to home

NORTH BAY – Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing announced that the Ontario government is investing over $1.8 million to increase access to pediatric services for children and youth in Nipissing so they have the care they need, when they need it, right in their own community.

“We are pleased to see the Ontario government committing $1.7 million in increased annual funding for pediatric services at One Kids Place Children’s Treatment Centre and the North Bay Regional Health Centre,” said MPP Vic Fedeli. “This investment will go a long way in supporting services to children and their families when and where they are needed most.”

The funding will increase access to children’s rehabilitation services, including speech-language pathology, physiotherapy and occupational therapy. The funding breakdown is as follows:

One Kids Place Children’s Treatment Centre
- $601,000 for the year ending on March 31, 2024
- $1,050,000 for the 2024-25 year
North Bay Regional Health Centre
- $42,500 for the year ending on March 31, 2024
- $72,900 for the 2024-25 year
Nipissing Serenity Hospice
- $150,000 for the year ending on March 31, 2024

Pediatric Funding Announcement at One Kids Place Jan 25 2024 — Pediatric Funding Announcement at One Kids Place

This investment is part of the government’s investment of an additional $330 million each year in pediatric health services at hospitals and community-based health care facilities across the province.

This consistent and stable annual funding increase will ensure hospitals, children’s rehabilitation providers and community health centres in Nipissing have the people, resources and technology to improve access to pediatric care and prevent backlogs. Over 100 high-priority initiatives are being quickly implemented across Ontario to ensure children and youth in every corner of the province can connect to emergency care, surgeries, ambulatory services, diagnostic imaging, and mental health services.

Through Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the Ontario government is providing significant financial support to hospitals and communities to improve how they deliver pediatric care – ensuring Ontarians of all ages can access care easier, faster, and closer to home in their communities.

Quick Facts

Supporting the mental health and well-being of people in Ontario is a key priority for this government. That is why we are providing a comprehensive and connected mental health and addictions (MHA) system that offers high-quality, evidence-based services and supports where and when they need them.
In 2020, the government released Roadmap to Wellness, our plan to build a world-class mental health and addictions system.
In addition to investing in existing services, Roadmap to Wellness investments are supporting the introduction of new innovative programs to begin to address wait lists and times and ensure access to timely and appropriate services.
For example, Ontario recently expanded One Stop Talk, a virtual walk-in mental health counselling service for children, youth and families. Once fully implemented, it will provide immediate, low barrier access to brief counselling services through a single virtual access point from anywhere in the province.
The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services funds children’s rehabilitation services for children and youth with special needs. These services include speech-language pathology, physiotherapy and occupational therapy delivered in schools and community locations. The Preschool Speech and Language Program provides assessments and services for children with speech and language difficulties and disorders from birth to transition to school.
Families with questions about their child’s development and support needs can contact their local children’s treatment centre or Surrey Place in Toronto.

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