Minister Blair announces $100 million investment to renew agreement with Hôpital Montfort and provide quality health services to Canadian Armed Forces members
March 20, 2024 – Ottawa, Ontario – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces – Today, the Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence, Marie-France Lalonde, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, the Honourable Mona Fortier, Member of Parliament for Ottawa-Vanier, and Dominic Giroux, president and CEO of Hôpital Montfort and Santé Montfort, announced the extension of the agreement between the Department of National Defence and Santé Montfort until 2032.
This agreement has been in place since 2003, and it has delivered quality health care to Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members in the National Capital Region (NCR). Through the agreement, both Canadian Forces Health Services Centre Ottawa and 1 Dental Unit Detachment Ottawa operate in Hôpital Montfort’s Wing D.
The current contract, originally planned to end in 2026, has been extended by six years to 2032. The federal government is investing over $100 million to extend the contract, bringing the total estimated contract value to $361 million. After this initial extension until 2032, the contract may be further extended by four one-year option periods.
Through this agreement, Hôpital Montfort will continue to provide dedicated space for the DND/CAF health care team to deliver primary care, comprehensive dental care, mental health, physiotherapy, pharmacy, and limited specialist care to CAF members. Hôpital Montfort is also contracted to provide surgery, in-patient care, X-ray, specialized clinics, and laboratory services for the CAF.
This positive collaboration with Hôpital Montfort provides the Canadian Armed Forces with the space and support needed to allow the Canadian Forces Health Services Centre (Ottawa) and 1 Dental Detachment (Ottawa) to continue to deliver modern, quality health care to eligible CAF members in the National Capital Region.
Quotes
“Our Armed Forces members work incredibly hard to serve our country and to protect Canadians – and we have an obligation to provide them with quality health services. This renewed partnership with Hôpital Montfort will ensure that military personnel in the National Capital Region continue to receive a high standard of care.”
The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence
“Montfort has been a pillar for families in the National Capital Region for decades, offering quality health care to our community. Members of the Canadian Armed Forces work hard to keep us safe, so it is only right to offer them the care and support that they need.”
The Honourable Jenna Sudds, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development
“We deeply value the strong and positive relationship between National Defence and Montfort. As the Member of Parliament for Orléans, I know that Monfort’s ability to provide health care services in both official languages is incredibly important to my community. This investment will ensure the delivery of comprehensive health care for Canadian Armed Forces members and for the 1.2 million Canadians that the Hospital serves for years to come.”
Marie-France Lalonde, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament for Orléans
“Monfort is an important place not only for the men and women of our Canadian Armed Forces, but for many families in the National Capital Region. Whether it’s for primary care, mental health care or more, the doctors and health care workers at Monfort are there to help us when we need it most. As the local Member of Parliament for Ottawa-Vanier, I’m thrilled that today’s announcement of a renewed contract extension will ensure that the good health care at Monfort will continue for years to come.”
The Honourable Mona Fortier, Member of Parliament for Ottawa—Vanier
“The priority of the Canadian Forces Health Services Group is the health and wellness of our military members. Our medical and dental teams in the National Capital Region provide top-notch primary care, physiotherapy, pharmacy, mental health, and dental services to Canadian Armed Forces members.’’
Cdr Kenna Turcotte, Commanding Officer, Canadian Forces Health Services Centre (Ottawa)
“Canadian Armed Forces members are part of the family, at Montfort. We are delighted to renew this partnership, and to see the Centre's mental health services enhanced.”
Dominic Giroux, President and CEO, Hôpital Montfort and Santé Montfort
Quick facts
- The provision of health care to eligible members of the CAF is the responsibility of the Chief of Military Personnel, through Canadian Forces Health Services.
- Canadian Forces Health Services Centre (Ottawa) provides health services to the eligible CAF population and other entitled persons in the National Capital Region.
- Canadian Forces Health Services Centre Ottawa and 1 Dental Unit Detachment Ottawa are co-located with Hôpital Montfort. The contractual arrangement with Santé was set to expire on March 31, 2026.
- DND enjoys a positive and collaborative working relationship with Hôpital Montfort; extending that relationship supports the continuity of high-quality healthcare to the Canadian Armed Forces.
- The Canadian Forces Health Services (CFHS) team continually seeks improvements to the health care offered to CAF members. During the contract review process with Santé Montfort, the Canadian Armed Forces identified the need to improve the provision of mental health care to the CAF, and as a result, the DND footprint on site will be expanded. Included within the amendment to extend the current contract are provisions to improve and expand mental health care services offered to CAF members at the site and make them consistent with what is offered in DND administered clinics at bases and wings.
- Montfort is Ontario’s Francophone academic hospital, offering exemplary person-centred care. The hospital serves over 1.2 million people in Eastern Ontario, in both official languages. In 2022, Montfort earned, for the third time, Accreditation with Exemplary Standing from Accreditation Canada, and is the first to be designated Francophone host as a Best Practices Spotlight Organization (BPSO) by the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. With its main partners, University of Ottawa and Collège La Cité, as well as other post-secondary programs, Montfort is preparing the next generation of Francophone healthcare professionals. Since 2015, it has ranked among Canada’s top 40 research hospitals through the activities of the Institut du Savoir Montfort, its knowledge institute. In 2019, it was named one of the world’s top 1000 hospitals.
Associated links
Health, support and casualty services - Canada.ca
Canadian Armed Forces medical and dental centres - Canada.ca
Contacts
Social medias
https://www.facebook.com/GpSvcSFC
https://www.facebook.com/hopital.montfort
Diana Ebadi
Press Secretary and Communications Advisor
Office of the Honourable Bill Blair
Minister of National Defence
diana.ebadi@forces.gc.ca
Olivier Pilon
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos
Minister of Public Services and Procurement
613-323-6621
olivier.pilon@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca
Martin Sauvé
Director of Communications
Hôpital Montfort
communications@montfort.on.ca
Media Relations
Public Services and Procurement Canada
819-420-5501
media@pwgsc-tpsgc.gc.ca
Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-904-3333
Email : mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca