An Ottawa hospital has asked the city of Ottawa to contribute $ 150 million to the construction of its new city campus in Lake Dow, but many city councilors say it is unfair for locals to take part in the bill for new hospitals.
Members of the Finance and Economic Development Committee received a briefing Tuesday from the city’s chief financial officer, Wendy Stephenson, who called it the biggest request for city funding she has ever received.
However, the decision on how – or if – the municipality should cover five percent of the $ 2.8 billion new hospital price will not be up to the current council, as it will be up to a new group of decision-makers after the October municipal elections .
The site is already preparing to build the garage of the new hospital, and the entire Civic campus is expected to be completed in 2028. Then the city will have to give its money.
The Ontario government will cover $ 2.1 billion, but is demanding that the Ottawa community cover $ 700 million for the project, which will replace the century-old structure further west on Carling Avenue.
$ 700 million local share for hospital
The city’s $ 150 million request was the remaining amount after the Ottawa hospital determined it could raise $ 50 million through retail and other revenues, and after setting a $ 500 million fundraising goal, the commission heard.
This community effort is “by far the largest campaign in the city’s history,” said Roger Greenberg, who chairs the campaign. His family, shareholders in the Minto Group, donated $ 25 million at the launch in mid-April.
Both Greenberg and the hospital’s chief executive, Cameron Love, called on the municipality to strengthen, as other Ontario cities do for local hospitals.
Cities such as Windsor and Vaughan, for example, have contributed to funding the construction of hospitals through taxation or debt issuance. The city of Oakville is even using funds from the sale of its telecommunications branch to contribute to its hospital.
“I don’t think it’s fair for the province to put so much emphasis on local fundraising and local health funding. “I think that should be the responsibility of the province,” said Stitsville Kaun. Glenn Gower and others agreed.
Greenberg could not explain why this was so, but only for years.
“That’s what it is. We’re either increasing the local share, or the province is dropping us to the bottom of the list,” Greenberg said.
Love explained that the new Ottawa Civic campus has already been approved, so a lack of funding could push the construction of the campus behind several other hospitals, also in the queue.
The main entrance to the future city campus of the Ottawa hospital will include a glass atrium that allows natural light. The 11-storey south tower with a helicopter platform on the roof and the seven-storey north tower will house outpatient clinics and inpatient wards. (Ottawa Hospital)
Tax fee “unpleasant”
Stephenson and her staff in the city of Ottawa will devise “unique” options by mid-2023 to support the hospital without redirecting funds from municipal operations and projects.
They will also try to avoid the tax burden on residents, which has been important for some advisers who believe that appraisals of properties used to calculate taxes need to be updated.
“With the hanging [Municipal Property Assessment Corporation] if corrected, imposing any amount would certainly be unpleasant, “said Count Matthew Luloff, who is running a re-election campaign in his Orleans area.
Although the tax fee may be an “easy solution,” Stephenson said her staff would consider other ideas, such as a hospital-specific development fee. The hospital is currently exempt from paying any development fees, she noted.
Other councilors said Ottawa taxpayers should not be solely responsible for fundraising at the hospital, when the existing Civic campus is the only trauma center in the region and cares for patients across eastern Ontario, as well as Quebec and Nunavut.
the Earl of Barhaven. But Ian Harder cited university research dollars and healthcare companies the hospital will attract, and said he would support Stephenson’s plan to find ways to pay a $ 150 million contribution from the city of Ottawa.
“Give her time to see what we can do to get closer to the plaque to make sure the first hospital to receive the money is the Ottawa hospital,” Harder said.
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