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Some still questioning hospital's massive local price tag Continued from page 1 3 · Wednesday, April 21, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com "I've met with the leader of the official opposition, he has no plans to fully fund hospital construction either. A local commitment is a factor the Province uses to decide how to allocate increasingly scarce provincial funding for hospitals." Burton said the amount the Province is asking for in the local share has reduced -- from approximately 33 per cent of the hospital costs in 2005 to 30 per cent in 2006. Burton acknowledges what is being asked of Oakville is big, but points out a bigger hospital is needed to promote infectious disease control. "We've heard from expert doctors singlepatient rooms are critical to controlling the spread of infectious diseases and promote greater healing," said Burton. "I trust doctors when it comes to medicine, not politicians and not lay people." Burton said the proposed hospital is affordable given the restructured payment plan Town staff has put forward. Under this plan, $130 million would be paid when the hospital opens at Third Line and Dundas Street in 2015, another $40 million would be paid over the next 30 years for life cycle costs of the project. Finally, $30 million will be considered at the project's financial close. Burton said this $30 million will be at the discretion of a future council and is not a commitment, but a promise to consider. "Town staff has indicated the up to $40 mil- lion donation for life cycle costs can be funded by non-tax revenues so there would be no tax impact for that portion," said Burton. "The up to $130 million donation required at the time of delivery of a complete operating hospital in 2015 may require some tax support, but it is too soon to know. Council has made it clear to staff we want to consider every way to fund the donation through non-tax revenues. Staff will report next year with ways to fund this amount through non-tax revenue opportunities including using proceeds from the recent sale of Blink Communications." Burton said Town staff has confirmed, if necessary, the full $130 million could be funded for less than a one per cent annual tax increase with Oakville still being within the limits set by the Town's debt policies, which Burton said are the strictest in the province. "I believe the Province would not have approved the new hospital if they did not believe it was needed, I believe if this hospital does not proceed as scheduled we will be risking the future health care of our town," said Burton. "I believe in this hospital and the lives it will save. I believe access to safe, high-quality facilities will be essential to attracting the physicians and nurses and other health care professionals to our community that we need. I believe in the opportunities it will create for jobs and businesses in our community. I believe the restructured donation responds to concerns that the cost was too high. I believe our town and its res- idents can afford to support the restructured donation staff proposes. I believe access to highquality, local health care is essential to creating a livable community." Not everyone is in agreement. Among those opposed to the Town making the $200 million contribution is Oakville resident Bruce Caplan, who said before the Town asks residents for money, it should first take a look at itself and see where costs can be cut. "In 2007, there were 63 employees of the Town who earned over $100,000 or more, in 2009 there were 118, almost double. Total salaries for these people in 2007 amounted to just over $7 million and in 2009 they amounted to over $14 million, almost double." "I don't know in recessionary times, who is getting seven per cent increases today... until we put this in order I firmly believe council has no right to ask us for more money." Dr. Roger Mailhot, an Oakville resident and former director and vice president of the scientific and regulatory affairs department of five pharmaceutical companies, called on council to reject the proposed contribution. "Health and hospital care, as we know, is a provincial jurisdiction and given that the Province has a much broader basis of taxation than municipalities and its citizens already pay a health tax, the Province should take full responsibility for the construction of the hospital," said Mailhot. "The Province is not honouring its constitutional responsibility." Mailhot drew comparisons between hospital planning in Vaughan and the new Oakville hospital. He said Vaughan, with a population of about 100,000 more than Oakville, is contributing a local share of $80 million for a hospital with 300 beds. Oakville is being asked to contribute $200 million for a hospital with 457 beds. Mailhot said Oakville's $200-million contribution should be reduced to somewhere between $76 million and $91 million. An Infrastructure Ontario representative noted numbers may not be firm for the Vaughan hospital project that is still in the planning stages. Mayoral candidate John Kay said the hospital project suffers from a lack of transparency. "(Residents) want to know why they would trust this government to build their hospital, the same government that is trying to give them a power plant in their backyard," said Kay. Halton Healthcare Services President and CEO John Oliver said HHS is committed to opening the hospital with five MRIs and CT scanners (how many of each is not confirmed yet) and 457 beds, although not all will be staffed and operational. Oliver said HHS is currently pursuing a commitment from the Ministry of Health to have 45 per cent of the additional services opened during the hospital's first year, an additional 30 per cent opened during the second year and the final 25 per cent opened during the third year. The timetable cannot be guaranteed. Re Saf - 20 hrs in-class - 10 hrs HomeLink - Evenings & Weekends - Small class sizes - Use of interactive tools to keep students engaged - 10 hrs private in-car lessons - Flexible scheduling & pick up - Driver training simulation labs - Adverse Weather effects - Risk free environment - Focused on highway, urban & city driving LIMITED SEATING FOR MAY 8TH COURSE · May 8, 9, 15, 16 (9:30am-3:30pm) · May 29, 30 June 5, 6 (9:30am-3:30pm) For course information: www.drivewiseoakville.com info@drivewiseoakville.com 905.845.7200