‘Five years in the making:’ Whitby celebrates hospital confirmation

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Published August 7, 2024 at 9:40 am

Celebrations continue in Whitby after the Province announced the long-awaited hospital would finally move forward.

Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Sylvia Jones visited Oshawa on Aug. 1 to announce several health projects throughout the Region. These include the expansion of the Bowmanville site and a new post-acute care centre in Pickering.

But the biggest news was the announcement of the long-withheld planning grant for the Whitby Hospital to get the project started.

Lakeridge Health selected a plot of land near the intersection of Highway 412 and Highway 407 for their fifth hospital. The area was chosen because it’s easy to access and it’s far enough away from existing hospitals while still central in the region. Despite grumblings from Oshawa and Pickering, who also wanted to host, the Whitby selection was announced in late 2021.

Though Lakeridge Health organized the project, the Provincial government is largely responsible for funding it. The first step of this was a $3 million funding grant to get the project underway.

The grant was not forthcoming though. Finance Minister and Pickering-Uxbridge MPP Peter Bethlenfalvy did not include the funding in his budgets for the next three years, casting doubt on the project’s future.

During this period friction grew between Whitby and the Province. Mayor Elizabeth Roy continued to push the Province on the matter, starting a public letter drive to Queen’s Park. This drive included a prize draw, which Ford quickly siezed to attack Roy.

Ford had previously said the hospital was coming and that Whitby MPP Lorne Coe was “always on him” about it.

However, following Roy’s letter campaign Ford said “I’m not going to be bullied by that mayor out there that’s constantly going out and offering everything under the kitchen sink. Maybe the integrity commissioner should be looking into, ‘are politicians allowed to offer gifts if they get your email?’ It’s really unbelievable.” Roy fired back, “Standing up for the residents of Whitby is not being a bully. It’s doing my job.”

A few months after locking horns with Roy, Ford made his Oshawa announcement, simply saying “yes” when asked if the Whitby hospital was coming. Jones filled in the details saying, “We are absolutely building a hospital in Whitby.” She added it would be operational in about ten years.

Whitby celebrated in the wake of the announcement. Roy, who was not present at Ford’s press conference, said she was “absolutely thrilled” by the confirmation.

“We are excited to hear that there is a firm commitment to build a hospital in Whitby on the northeast corner of Winchester and Lake Ridge Road – the site recommended by an independent expert panel,” she said, “These investments will help ensure an integrated system of healthcare to meet the needs of residents across the region.”

The following Tuesday after the long weekend she held a press conference of her own saying, “After five years of hard work by so many people, we are celebrating the announcement.” Her speech was largely one of gratitude to the Ontario government and all those who supported the town’s pressure campaign.

MP Ryan Turnbull, who also lent his voice to the campaign, echoed Roy’s feeling saying he too was “thrilled,” by the announcement. He called it the “culmination of years of advocacy” and a testament to those advocate’s “tireless dedication.”

 

 

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