OP-ED: Healthcare in Cape Breton remains a priority, minister says

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeCape BretonCape Breton OpinionOpinion OP-ED: Healthcare in Cape Breton remains a priority, minister says Our ambitions for healthcare on the island have not diminished Author of the article: By Contributed Published Sep 11, 2026 2 minute read We want Cape Bretoners to have the healthcare they deserve, writes Michelle Thompson, Minister of Health and Wellness. Article content Since 2021, our government has been focused on healthcare, from one end of this province to the other, including on Cape Breton Island. We want Cape Bretoners to have the healthcare they deserve.    Article content Article content The Cape Breton Regional Municipality Healthcare Redevelopment was announced in 2018 as an ambitious plan to strengthen services and infrastructure across the island. At the time, it was expected to be an investment of about $800 million.    Article content Article content Since then, our commitment has grown. Over the past five years, we’ve made significant healthcare investments across Cape Breton. That includes expanded emergency, surgical and critical-care capacity, a new cardiac catheterization lab, PET/CT imaging, the new Northside Health Centre, and continued work to strengthen primary care.    Article content We’re also investing in the people who deliver care. We are recruiting and retaining physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals. The new medical campus at Cape Breton University will help educate and retain more physicians on the island, improving access to care for families now and in the future.    Article content Health Minister Michelle Thompson answers questions from reporters at One Government Place on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025.Ryan Taplin – The Chronicle Herald PHOTO BY RYAN TAPLIN Article content Our ambitions for healthcare on the island have not diminished. We are building on the work already underway, and our focus remains on better care for Cape Bretoners. I understand people in New Waterford and Glace Bay want clarity about projects first announced eight years ago. That’s fair – eight years is a long time to wait, and people deserve to know how plans are moving forward.    Article content Article content Plans can and should evolve when circumstances change. We know more now than in 2018. This is not about money. Healthcare delivery has changed, technology has advanced, workforce realities have…