A report will be tabled during the next term of council, with options for funding.
The administration of the Ottawa Hospital is requesting funding of $150 million from the Municipality to complete the financing necessary for its construction.
But on Tuesday, some councilors on the committee expressed concern that Ottawa residents will have to foot the bill for the construction of the brand new health care centre.
Total funding for the construction of The Ottawa Hospital’s new Civic Campus is nearing completion. The total cost of building the new health care facility is $2.8 billion.
The province has already pledged $2.1 billion in funding for the project.
A group of citizens has started a fundraising campaign, the objective of which is 500 million dollars, and the administration of the Hospital anticipates 50 million in income that can be invested in the project, which causes a shortfall of 150 million.
Other municipalities in Ontario have helped fund the construction of hospitals for their residents. Today, we’re asking you to pledge to help us build this world-class facility that will serve your residents for generations to come.
supports Cameron LovePresident and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital.
Why is the province not paying the full bill?
One of the members of the Finance and Economic Development Committee, Councilor Shawn Menard, wonders why the province is not footing the entire bill for this project.
I think the province should foot the entire bill
says Mr. Menard.
Capital Ward Councilor Shawn Menard wonders why the province isn’t paying the full bill for the Ottawa Hospital’s new Civic campus project (archives).
Photo: Radio-Canada / Jean Delisle
I don’t think it’s fair for the province to leave all the responsibility to municipal funding or to a fundraising campaign for health care
adds Glen Goweralso a city councilor who sits on the committee. I believe that is the responsibility of the province.
Either we increase the local share or the province puts us at the bottom of the list
supports the Executive Chairman of the Ottawa Hospital Foundation’s fundraising campaign, Roger Greenberg.
There are nine other hospitals that are on this list; we’ll go down the list, and the province will come back to us in 20 years to ask if we’ve changed our minds. The hospital is 100 years old and its due date has long passed. Replacing the entire hospital is quite unique and that’s why the local fundraising campaign is one of the largest in the province.
Committee members asked the City’s finance team to find payment methods that would have the least impact on ratepayers.
A tax levy is an option for council to consider, but city staff want to find other options for this funding
supports Wendy StephansonChief Financial Officer of the City of Ottawa.
It is therefore a newly elected municipal council that will have to decide the question, because municipal staff must submit their recommendations in 2023.
Health services at the new Civic campus will be primarily intended for clients from the Champlain region and Nunavut, which represents a pool of more than 1.2 million people.
The future Civic campus will have an area of 2.5 million square feet and will be located on the street carlingnear the lake Dowat the foot of the Rideau Canal.
Construction work on the future Civic campus should begin in 2024. The schedule will be specified as the work progresses.
The province and the administration of the Ottawa Hospital are talking about an opening for 2028.
Reference-ici.radio-canada.ca