Premier Fréchette announces $700M to upgrade Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital in Montreal

A nurse takes a break outside Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital in Montreal on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press)

Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette announced an investment of more than $700 million in the expansion and modernization of the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital in Montreal.

Fréchette made the announcement at the Montreal hospital on Thursday afternoon, accompanied by Health Minister Sonia Bélanger and others, saying it “marks a new milestone.”

In a press release, the Fréchette government specified that this “new phase” includes the launch of additional preparatory work, the acquisition of new land, and the approval of the budget needed to finalize the plans and specifications.

The goal is to admit the first patients in 2036, officials said. The CAQ government has faced widespread criticism regarding the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital due to its severe state of disrepair and the slow pace of construction.

In recent months, the hospital, which serves all of Quebec, has been plagued by major water leaks and the presence of rodents on the floors. Faced with the outcry, the government had allocated $85 million in emergency funds to begin construction of the parking garage.

The HMR Coalition had also called on the CAQ leadership candidates — Fréchette and Bernard Drainville — to commit to building the new wing and to provide predictable funding for the next eight years.

“Today, we’re seeing concrete results. Each step brings us closer to a modern, high-quality hospital that lives up to what Quebecers deserve,” Fréchette said in a press release.

“Today we are taking an important step by confirming the funds needed to move forward with this major project for patients and staff. In fact, we will issue the first call for bids in the coming weeks,” added Bélanger.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on April 23, 2026.