McMaster University has selected Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital as the preferred site
for the Halton McMaster Family Health Centre, the city, Halton Region, McMaster and
Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital announced jointly Thursday.

“This is an important announcement for Burlington, and demonstrates a partnership
that is devoted to enhancing health care in our city,” Mayor Rick Goldring said at the
Burlington Convention Centre during his State of the City address. “Creating a teaching
hospital here in Burlington will raise the quality of health care for the people of
Burlington and provide a great complement to the redevelopment of Joseph Brant
hospital.”

The city and the region have committed $10 million to McMaster University as part of
the Ron Joyce Centre, housing the DeGroote School of Business, on South Service Road.
This project included a commitment by McMaster to open a Halton McMaster Family
Health Centre in downtown Burlington.

“One of the key initiatives in the Citizens' Priorities – Halton Region's 2011-2014 Action
Plan is to attract new physicians to establish medical practices in Halton,” said Regional
Chair Gary Carr. “A partnership such as this will help to bring new physicians to the
Region, and give more residents access to a family doctor.”

McMaster anticipates using two floors, and about 15,000 square feet (1,394 square
metres), of Joseph Brant as part of the Phase 1 project. All parties hope to be
operational at Joseph Brant by the end of 2013.

“Although we are still working through our approval process, we know this location for
the family health centre will be an excellent opportunity to strengthen our ties to Joseph
Brant Memorial Hospital for the benefit of the hospital, the residents of Burlington and
Halton and the Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine,” said Dr. David Price, chair of
the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University. “This centre will also serve
our expanding family medicine program in the Region.”

Dr. John Kelton, dean and vice-president of the Faculty of Health Sciences, added: “This
is an important step of our move towards having learners from our medical school and
many of our health science programs involved in health care throughout Halton.”

The site plan application for Phase 1 will be submitted to the city's planning and
building department in May. Public consultation will help the community better
understand the plans at Joseph Brant.

On Aug. 10, 2011, the province confirmed that the Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital re-
development project is approved. This project, with a budget of more $300 million, will
result in a significantly rejuvenated hospital.

“We are very pleased to have the new Halton McMaster Family Health Centre on our
hospital site,” said Dr. Dwight Prodger, Chief of Staff at Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital.
“There will be many benefits to Burlington and area residents with the HMFHC being
located here including improved access to family medicine and specialist physicians and
it will also help increase the hospital's ability to recruit and retain new physicians.”

The project will proceed in two Phases. The hospital will begin with an RFP process and
tender on Phase 1 in 2012 and construction in 2013. Phase 2 will go through a similar
process with the tender award in 2014.