The provincial authorities confirmed Thursday a brand new regional hospital can be in-built Whitby, an announcement that comes after months of public stress between the city’s mayor and Premier Doug Ford.
Well being Minister Sylvia Jones mentioned the objective is for the hospital to be constructed and operational inside 10 years.
The province has given Lakeridge Well being, which presently operates 5 hospitals in Durham Area, $12 million in grants as it really works on a masterplan for a number of long-term health-care initiatives, together with the hospital in Whitby.
In February, Whitby Mayor Elizabeth Roy launched a public stress marketing campaign focused at Ford and his authorities, urging the province to make good on a promise to construct a brand new acute-care hospital in Durham.
An unbiased panel established by Lakeridge Well being chosen Whitby as the popular web site for a brand new hospital in January 2022, and Roy accused Ford of dithering on a $3-million planning grant essential to place the mission in movement.
As a part of her marketing campaign, the city supplied raffle prizes to residents who took half in a survey geared toward drumming up help for the brand new hospital.
WATCH | Well being minister says new hospital could possibly be operational in 10 years:
New Whitby hospital can be constructed and operational in 10 years: well being minister
Ontario Well being Minister Sylvia Jones made the announcement at a information convention in Oshawa on Thursday.
In April, Ford mentioned Roy was attempting to bully him and criticized her strategies for soliciting group help for the hospital, calling them “improper.” He urged the raffle, which supplied prizes like gymnasium memberships and Apple iWatches, may breach ethics guidelines.
“You may’t be doing that. Elected officers can’t be pulling these video games. We have dedicated to ensure now we have a hospital in Durham,” Ford mentioned on the time.
“We’ll undergo the method and I am not going to be bullied by that mayor on the market that is continually going, going on the market and providing the whole lot beneath the kitchen sink.”
Ford was alongside Jones on Thursday to announce the brand new hospital. Roy was not current on the information convention.
In a press release, Roy mentioned she was “completely thrilled” the province has “acknowledged the pressing want for a brand new hospital.”
Roy thanked Ford and Jones by identify, whereas additionally thanking Whitby residents who took half within the advocacy marketing campaign.
“Our group rallied behind this trigger,” she mentioned. “You spoke, and the province heard you.”
Whitby Mayor Elizabeth Roy has argued for months {that a} new hospital is desperately wanted because the city’s inhabitants grows and pressure on health-care sources grows. (CBC)
The bigger masterplan beneath improvement by Lakeridge Well being can even see 300 new hospital beds added all through Durham.
The work consists of a redeveloped hospital in Bowmanville and a brand new post-acute care facility in Pickering for rehabilitation and restoration. The province and the hospital are additionally contemplating redeveloping the Ajax Pickering Hospital.
Lakeridge says the provincial funding will enable it to handle gaps in advanced persevering with care and rehabilitation providers throughout the area.
