Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Wednesday reiterated his pledge that the province would build a new hospital in the Durham region, but said his government would do so on site.
“We show a lot of love to the people of Durham. They’ll get a hospital and we’ll go there,” Ford told reporters at an independent news convention in Toronto.
Ford’s comments come after an independent committee set up through Lakeridge Health, a Durham region hospital network, chose Whitthrough as the preferred site for a new hospital in January 2022. The land on which the main site is located is owned by the Ontario Ministry of Transport.
In February, Whitby Mayor Elizabeth Roy launched a crusade urging the province to make good on its promise to build a hospital in the Durham region, east of Toronto.
At the time, he said a new acute care hospital was needed in the area because the existing hospital formula can’t keep up with demands and the region is growing. He said its population is expected to reach more than one million in less than 20 years.
Residents have experienced crowded emergency rooms and excessive wait times, Roy said.
Following the announcement of the site he liked, Lakeridge Health deployed $3 million from the Ontario Ministry of Health as a capital plans grant for the facility in the spring of 2022. In the Ontario government’s last budget, on March 26, there was no investment for a new hospital in Durham.
Ford first promised Roy a hospital in Durham region in 2015.
At the press conference, Ford criticized Roy, saying he disagreed with his strategies of requesting a network for a Whitby hospital and that he thought they were not “appropriate. “He accused her of collecting names and email addresses, conducting a lottery, and awarding prizes. “treats,” such as gym memberships and iPhone watches.
The prime minister also accused the mayor of bullying him, an accusation that city officials consider disrespectful.
Ford said, “Folks, that’s wrong. They can’t do that. Elected officials can’t host those games. We are committed to making sure we have a hospital in Durham. We’re going through the procedure and I’m not going to be intimidated by this mayor who goes around and puts everything under the sink. “
In a Wednesday press release, Matt Gaskell, chief executive of Roy and Whitby, said: “Many municipalities use the awards to inspire participation in issues vital to them and their communities. “
The City of Whitthrough said it presented four prizes to entice citizens to participate in the campaign: a 12-month family club for the Whitthrough City Gymnasium; one of two activity packs that include a backpack, towel, and two activity passes; and a 44mm Apple Watch SE (GPS) Midnight Sport, paid for in the city.
Roy said in the statement: “The Prime Minister misleads the public with erroneous accusations that are frankly disrespectful to the thousands of people who took the time for our campaign and share their non-public stories. To defend the citizens of Whitby is not to be a bully. . . It does my job.
“The province continues to say that a hospital will soon open in Durham. When should I ask? I’ll keep asking until we get an answer. “
Roy expressed his fear that Ford has said the province will occupy the site and that’s why Whitby continues to advocate.
Gaskell agreed, saying the prime minister’s comments are “totally wrong and frankly disrespectful” to letters and private stories shared by some 4,000 citizens about why a new hospital is for them.
“Residents signed up to show their support for Durham’s new hospital, not for a chance to win one of four awards,” he said.
“Offering prizes to encourage participation is a common practice in many municipalities. “
Gaskell said the emails are collected as a way to validate spam submissions and that the mayor and council do not have access to the emails provided.
Earlier Wednesday, Roy announced the next steps for the campaign. The city will align municipal services with orange centers, and the center will represent a resident who has supported the campaign.
“We’re giving up,” Roy said.
According to Lakeridge Health, the preferred area for the new hospital is north of Whitby, south of Highway 407, west of Highway 412, east of Lake Ridge Road and north of Highway 7/Winchester Road.
On its website, the network says it operates five hospitals, 4 emergency departments, and 3 intensive care units, as well as network sites, a long-term care residence, and a surgical center.
Muriel Draaisma is a journalist working at CBC News in Toronto. She enjoys writing about social justice issues. In the past he worked for the Vancouver Sun, the Edmonton Journal and the Regina Leader-Post. It is originally from British Columbia. Any concept for A Story?You can find it on muriel. draaisma@cbc. ca.
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