I was pleased to join the Minister of Health last month for a very important virtual announcement which will positively affect many families in Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston. A new regional pediatric surgical program was launched to address the wait-list for surgeries for children and youth in eastern Ontario—part of this government’s investment of an additional $330 million each year in pediatric health services in our hospitals and community-based health care facilities.

Led by the Kids Come First Health Team, this initiative brings the CHEO day surgery program to two sites: the Carleton Place and District Memorial Hospital in my riding of Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston, and the Brockville General Hospital in my neighbour MPP’s riding of Leeds–Grenville–Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes.

Funding will go toward equipment and training at the Carleton Place and District Memorial Hospital, including pediatric advanced life-support skills as well as general and orthopaedic surgery.

My thanks for the hard work and dedication of Mary Wilson Trider, who just recently retired from her position as CEO of the Mississippi River Health Alliance, which includes the Carleton Place and District Memorial Hospital; Nicholas Vlacholias from Brockville General Hospital; and Alex Munter, CEO of CHEO.

Through Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care, the government is providing significant financial support to hospitals and communities to improve how they deliver pediatric care, ensuring families in Lanark–Frontenac–Kingston and across the province can access care easier, faster and closer to home.