People in the area are upset because the 2024 Ontario budget released on Wednesday did not include a long-awaited planning grant for a new Whitby hospital.
Mayor Elizabeth Roy expressed disappointment that, for the third time, the budget did not allocate any planning grant for a hospital in Whitby.
However, Roy admits that there were no planning grants included in the budget.
Roy mentioned that while money is being allocated for health care overall, including hospital expansions and improved services, the lack of a planning grant for the new hospital is concerning, especially going into the third budget without any announcement.
In January 2022, an independent expert panel chose a site in Whitby for the new hospital. Since then, according to Roy, there has been no action from the province.
But Roy is not giving up hope.
Roy referred to the province's planning grants document, stating that a planning grant for a hospital can be announced at any time, expressing her determination based on the premier's words.
In a statement to Global News, MPP Lorne Coe, an advocate for the new hospital, confirmed that Whitby will be getting a hospital, but it is not happening yet.
Premier Ford, as mentioned by Coe, conveyed that while no new planning grants are being issued at the moment, a new hospital will be built for the people of Durham Region, including Whitby.
The government is focused on delivering the $50 billion worth of hospital projects already planned. While working on these projects, MPP Coe will continue to collaborate with the Ministry of Health and Lakeridge Health to meet the healthcare needs of the growing community in Whitby and other parts of the region.
In a radio interview on Feb. 15, Premier Doug Ford stated that a Whitby hospital will be established and a planning grant would be issued soon.
In response to the mayor's disappointment, a spokesperson for Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy expressed his strong support for the hospital and advocating for more health care in Whitby, Pickering, and all of Durham.
Roy expressed her hope that if not in the budget, a planning grant can be issued soon.
She emphasized the need for health care, education, and infrastructure to support the expected community growth in the coming years.
Whitby MP Ryan Turnbull also supports the establishment of the new hospital in the region and highlighted the significance of health care in the riding.
Turnbull expressed that every delay in the process results in more disappointed family members or individuals in the area not having access to necessary care, which undermines their trust in the health-care system.
On Feb. 7, the Town of Whitby began a campaign to show the urgency and necessity of a new hospital. Since then, many residents have signed a call-to-action letter and shared stories about why the hospital is important to them.
Roy explains that the hospital won't be certain until the province can provide the $3 million planning grant to start the project.
Next week will mark the final week of Whitby’s eight-week community advocacy campaign.
Meanwhile, Roy stated she will continue to press the government to release funding for a planning grant.
The mayor of Whitby is disappointed that the 2024 Ontario budget did not include a planning grant for the urgently needed hospital in the town.
