Request For Qualifications Issued For Norman Site Expansion and Renovation 

Residents of the Sarnia-Lambton area took another step toward improved healthcare today with the release of a request for qualifications (RFQ) to shortlist teams to build and finance the redevelopment of Sarnia's Bluewater Health Norman Site. 

"This marks another milestone for the Sarnia-Lambton area.  I'm pleased to announce that Bluewater Health is moving forward in its development plans,” said Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal David Caplan. “This project is one of many in the McGuinty government's five-year $30-billion infrastructure renewal plan to modernize infrastructure and ensure value for taxpayer dollars as we build strong, prosperous communities.” 

"This project is an essential part of the McGuinty government's plan to modernize hospitals, reduce wait times and upgrade medical equipment in the local community and across the province," said Sarnia-Lambton MPP Caroline Di Cocco. 

"This next step signifies for our community that our hospital building project continues to move forward," said David Vigar, President/CEO, Bluewater Health.  "We will continue to work with our MPP and our community as we prepare to build our state-of-the-art hospital facility, which Sarnia-Lambton residents deserve and need." 

Once qualified project teams have been short-listed, it is anticipated they will be invited to respond to a request for proposal (RFP) in late summer/fall 2006 with construction scheduled to begin early 2007. 

The Bluewater Health RFQ was issued as part of a combined qualification process including five other infrastructure projects across the province. 

Bluewater Health will manage this project with Infrastructure Ontario, a provincial crown corporation, under the government's Alternative Financing and Procurement (AFP) program - part of ReNew Ontario, a five-year infrastructure investment plan. 

This project also supports the McGuinty government's plan to build a healthcare system that focuses on three priorities - keeping Ontarians healthy, reducing wait times and improving access to doctors and nurses.  

The redeveloped facilities, like all hospitals in Ontario, will be publicly owned and publicly controlled. 

Contacts: 

Wilson Lee 
Minister's Office 
Public Infrastructure Renewal 
416-325-8735 
Neil Trotter 
Infrastructure Ontario 
416-325-7409 
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