The provincial government is making an additional $330 million available for pediatric health care.

Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones says the funding is a mix of both short term and long term investments.

“The funding letters are actually being prepared right now, and many of them are based on proposals that have come forward by the individual organizations,” Jones said in a news conference Wednesday morning in Ottawa.

“So some will be very short term, immediate-type goals, that they want to, for example, prepare for fall flu season.”

Jones adds the aim is to connect children and youth to more convenient and high-quality care close to home at hospitals, clinics and community-based health care facilities across Ontario.

“Some are longer term that have an innovation piece that will take longer to roll out.  But again, I want to reinforce,  this is on-going commitment.  This is not a one and done.  We understand that we are making an investment in the sector to make sure it is prepared for any challenges that we have going forward.”

Jones says over 100 high-priority initiatives will be implemented to ensure children and youth in every corner of the province can connect to emergency care, surgeries, diagnostic imaging, and mental health services.