Whereas, municipalities across the Province of Ontario, including Hamilton, London, and the Region of Waterloo, with populations smaller than the City of Brampton, are equipped with three or more hospitals to effectively deliver critical healthcare services to their residents;
Whereas, the City of Brampton, now the third-largest city in Ontario, is experiencing rapid population growth and a significant increase in demand for healthcare services, resulting in overcrowded hospital beds even after the construction of the second hospital, which is unable to meet the current and future demand;
Whereas, Brampton’s healthcare infrastructure is significantly strained, with hospital bed availability per 100,000 residents markedly below the provincial average, and the city has approximately 56% fewer hospital beds per person than the provincial average. Specifically, the provincial average is 220 hospital beds per 100,000 residents, while Brampton only has 96 beds per 100,000 residents, less than half the provincial figure, highlighting a pressing need for increased healthcare capacity;
Whereas, Brampton’s population is projected to grow by 300,000 to 400,000 new residents due to new housing targets, which will necessitate a proportional increase in healthcare services, including at least 660 new hospital beds to meet the rising demand;
Whereas, securing a provincial planning grant for a third hospital would send a strong signal to Brampton residents that their healthcare needs are a priority, helping to address the current strain on hospital capacity;
Therefore, be it resolved that:
1. Council advocate to the provincial government for the identification and acquisition of lands necessary for the establishment of a third hospital in Brampton;
2. Council requests that the provincial government prioritize the planning and funding for a third hospital, ensuring timely delivery of healthcare services to meet the needs of Brampton’s residents and address the current strain on hospital capacity.