Health · Civic campus fundingOttawa hospital donation: Peter Gilgan Foundation commits C$50 millionAired November 4, 2026 at 6:03 PM UTCThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:07The Peter Gilgan Foundation has committed fifty million dollars to the Ottawa0:11Hospital's new campus.0:13The planned critical care tower will serve seriously ill and injured patients from0:19across the region and beyond, but the hospital's final construction bill is still0:23unsettled.0:24How far does this gift move the project toward a fully funded hospital that patients0:29can enter?0:30The fifty million dollar commitment supports the campaign to create tomorrow.0:34In recognition, the hospital will name its planned Peter Gilgan Critical Care Tower.0:40The foundation hasn't disclosed how much of the gift has already been paid.0:44The announcement came November third at the General Campus, with Premier Doug Ford0:49and Health Minister Sylvia Jones present.0:51All dollar amounts here are Canadian.0:54The Hospital Foundation calls the commitment the largest philanthropic gift in0:59Ottawa's history.1:00Gilgan founded the home builder Madame Holmes.1:03He said his foundation had been talking quietly with the hospital for some time.1:08His family made its final decision recently, and he wants the contribution to1:13encourage others to give.1:14The replacement hospital is planned for Carling Avenue near Dows Lake, close to the1:19existing civic campus.1:21That hospital opened in November1924 .1:24The new campus design includes six hundred and forty-one single-patient rooms and1:29more operating rooms.1:31The hospital cares for critically ill and injured people across eastern Ontario and1:36western Quebec, and as far away as Nunavut.1:39Its campaign describes a region of one point four million people and an existing1:44network of twenty-two satellite locations.1:47The planned tower will house the trauma center, emergency services, and intensive1:52care.1:53Its teams will bring doctors and nurses together with respiratory therapist,1:57pharmacists, other health professionals, social workers, and spiritual care2:02providers around the sickest patients.2:04Hospital Chief Executive Cameron Love says the tower will bring critical care teams.2:09Advanced technology and resources together around patients and families.2:14Foundation Chief Executive Tim Kluke says more than fifty thousand individuals and2:19families have already made campaign gifts.2:22Kluke says, many families, individuals, and businesses have made their largest2:27philanthropic contributions to this effort.2:30The foundation is keeping its campaign goal at five hundred million dollars,2:34affording both the new hospital and research, despite the construction cost2:38uncertainty.2:39The campaign tally ranges from four hundred and sixty-four million to four hundred2:44and sixty-five million dollars.2:46The million-dollar difference hasn't been explained.2:49Those figures leave thirty-six million.2:51The construction bill reaches into billions.2:54The campaign's remaining fundraising target tells donors how far that campaign has2:58to go.2:59The amount still needed to finance the entire hospital depends on a revised budget3:04and an agreement over who pays.3:06The earlier project estimate.3:08Was two point eight billion dollars, including two point one billion from Ontario.3:13Infrastructure Minister David Picini now puts provincial investment at just shy of3:19ten billion.3:20He hasn't supplied a finalized all-in-project budget.3:23The health ministry initially wouldn't confirm Piccini's figure.3:28It identified more than thirty million dollars invested in planning.3:32The nearly ten billion dollar statement also doesn't tell taxpayers how much money3:36has been paid out.3:37Piccini pointed to higher costs, supply chains, and municipal fees.3:42Jones's office said the project's scope had evolved, with additional work and3:47requirements emerging through planning.3:50It cited aging infrastructure and changing healthcare needs over coming decades.3:55Jones said costs were still being worked out with the developer and builder.3:58Her office described the original estimate as years old.4:02The officials haven't put dollar amounts against the separate factors they say are4:06driving the increase.4:07The earlier community share.4:09Was six hundred eighty-seven million dollars, often rounded to seven hundred4:13million.4:14In twenty twenty-two, Ottawa council was asked for one hundred fifty million toward4:19it.4:19Fundraising was expected to cover much of the rest.4:22Ottawa MPP Stephen Blaze warned the new provincial figure could imply a local share4:28of two point two five to two point five billion dollars.4:32He questioned whether local donors and businesses could raise it.4:35Those amounts are his conditional projections.4:38Jones's office subsequently described a hospital development formula of ninety4:42percent provincial funding and ten percent local funding.4:46It hasn't released the revised budget or detailed split needed to calculate Ottawa's4:51obligation.4:52Her office says the city has an important role and calls its existing contribution a4:57fraction of those in five other Ontario cities.5:00It supplied no comparable amounts.5:03City staff will bring councillors financing options, but haven't confirmed when.5:08Ontario Liberals want the full project budget released.5:11They also want the province to cover everything beyond the originally expected seven5:16hundred million dollar community share that remains an opposition demand while the5:20financing is being worked out.5:22The hospital once envisioned construction starting in2024 , and an opening5:27in2028 .5:29In April, project advisor Graham Bird suggested completion in2033 or5:3434.5:35His projection hasn't become a confirmed opening date.5:38At that April stage, crews were building the parking garage.5:42Work on the hospital building hadn't begun, and no construction contract had been5:46signed.5:47Infrastructure Ontario's2022 request for proposals had drawn one bid from5:52Ellis Don and PCL constructors.5:55The hospital, Infrastructure Ontario, and those builders have been working through6:00development details since February2024 .6:03By late October, the hospital said design was complete.6:07The fifty million dollar gift supports future care.6:11While those construction arrangements are being settled, the commitment brings the6:15campaign closer to its goal, while the hospital's full financing and opening6:19schedule still need agreement.6:21The hospital says it's finalizing construction costs and timelines with its6:26construction partners, the health ministry and infrastructure Ontario.Explore with HeyDexFollow via RSS
