Local levy needed to fund share of project

Once the excitement surrounding the announcement of the mega-hospital plans fade, the realty is this nearly $2-billion dream will require a municipal tax increase or levy in both Windsor and Essex County.

If the Ministry of Health approves the project, Windsor and Essex County residents are expected to foot 10 per cent of the bill. That will require raising about $200 million locally.

“We can’t raise that type of money without a levy going to the taxpayers,” Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said. “We’re going to have to have those discussions now. It’ll be a tough sell, but the positives of the project are so great it’ll help us sell it.”

Dilkens said no fundraising campaign could generate the money. Even Oakville, home to some of Canada’s wealthiest citizens, required a levy to pay its portion of the bill for a major hospital development, he noted.

If the amount each municipality has to raise is based on population, Windsor and Essex County will have to contribute roughly equal amounts.

County council got a head start by approving a motion to set aside $340,000 for the project in this year’s budget.

“It won’t be easy, but it will be done,” said Essex Warden Tom Bain. “Health care is ranked No. 1 and education No. 2 by county residents. We’ve always contributed. I don’t think the sell for this will be as tough as it looks.”

Windsor Regional Hospital CEO and president David Musyj said marketing the merits and financing of the project is the immediate next step.

The choice for local residents is financing the mega-hospital project or renovating the hospitals at Windsor Regional’s two aging campuses, he said. The estimate for renovating the two campuses is about $2.3 billion.

“Doing nothing isn’t an option,” Musyj said.

“It’s not choosing to build the mega-hospital or spend nothing.

“We’ve paid for new hospitals built in Oakville, Toronto, Niagara ... It’s time for the rest of Ontario to pay for a new one here.”

The province would pick up 90 per cent of the cost.

The region has seven to 10 years to raise its share of the funds, Musyj said. The money doesn’t have to be paid to province until the new hospital is occupied.

“The (Ministry of Health) is going to watch local reaction closely,” said Musyj, who plans to begin making presentations to the area town’s councils shortly.

It will be looking for local support for the plan and the funding, he said.