New Hospital Opens in Sioux Lookout

News Release
2010-176
October 15, 2010
For immediate release

SIOUX LOOKOUT - On behalf of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, Greg Rickford, Member of Parliament for Kenora, attended the official opening of the new Meno Ya Win Hospital in Sioux Lookout, Ontario. Health Canada contributed $37.4 million towards construction costs for this facility.

"Our government is proud to have provided support for a facility that celebrates local First Nations culture and traditions," said Minister Aglukkaq. "We are committed to working in partnership with the province and First Nations communities to improve health care services."

"This building is a prime example of what can be achieved when communities and all orders of government work together," said Mr. Rickford. "I congratulate all the people in the Sioux Lookout area and everyone who has been involved in this important project."

The new 140,000 square foot facility will house existing hospital, mental health, and addiction services and several new services including: a five-bed withdrawal management unit, a dedicated palliative care area, a visiting specialist clinic, traditional healing and support areas, a CT scan unit, and screening and diagnostic mammography.

The opening marks more than a decade of planning by the federal government, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, the Municipality of Sioux Lookout, and the Nishnawbe Aski Nation (a political territorial organization representing 26 First Nation communities within the Sioux Lookout Zone). A four party agreement signed in 1997 paved the way for the amalgamation of the resources at the two existing hospitals (one federal and one provincial) with the long-term vision of developing one modern hospital in Sioux Lookout to service all clients.

The completion of this new state-of-the-art hospital complements the completion of the new 100-bed hostel, to which the federal government contributed $10 million. Owned and operated by the Sioux Lookout First Health Authority, the hostel will provide a comforting environment for First Nations people in remote locations who must travel from their communities to receive hospital and other forms of specialized care.

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