Statement from Mayor Dan Carter on making the case for the new hospital to be located in Oshawa

As the Durham Region continues to see substantial population growth year over year, it is clear that there is a need for a new Acute Care Hospital with a Level II Trauma Centre in Durham Region. The strain on our existing healthcare infrastructure has been highlighted by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and it is evident that now is the time for thoughtful, strategic and long-term investments to  serve the rapidly growing community and continue with the exceptional legacy of care that is provided by Lakeridge Health in the Region.

In June 2021, Lakeridge Health announced the details for the proposed new hospital in the Durham Region, and a rapid site selection process.

In September 2021 City Council directed staff to submit two quality sites as part of the submission process. The first site is located at the southwest corner of Simcoe Street North and Britannia Avenue West, having an area of 63.8 acres under the ownership of Ontario Tech University.  The second site is located at the northeast corner of the intersection of Simcoe Street North and Highway 407 East having an area of 60 acres under the ownership of the Province of Ontario as represented by the Ministry of Transportation. 

In October 2021, the City of Oshawa was informed that our submission would not be progressing.  The City’s two sites could not meet the arbitrary criteria that the potential hospital site be more than 10 kilometres from an existing hospital with an emergency department.

On January 31, 2022 my City of Oshawa Council colleagues and I met to receive a presentation outlining the City of Oshawa’s full submission to highlight the strengths of the City’s proposed sites.

Lakeridge Health was focused on a clear, transparent and well-communicated process to support the site selection for a proposed new hospital in the Durham Region. I agree with this transparent approach regarding a major and necessary healthcare investment in our community which is why the City of Oshawa has decided to make the full details of our submission to the Independent Expert Panel available for public review. You can review the details here.

We feel confident in the two quality sites that the City proposed and the extensive benefits that Oshawa provided to the Independent Expert Panel. The extensive benefits of the sites included, but were not limited to the following:

• Are centrally located within the Region, located within an Urban Area and located within a designated future growth area as defined in the Durham Regional Official Plan
• Conformity with the Provincial Policy Statement and Provincial Growth Plan concerning suitable areas for a hospital development
• Easy access to public transportation, Highway 407 East, Oshawa Executive Airport and active transportation networks
• Access to post-secondary institutions to maximize research, innovation and technology through collaborations and partnerships
• Were, or planned to be, fully serviced with all utilities and broadband
• Direct access to key amenities including parks, Fire Station No. 6  and other businesses

Though the Independent Expert Panel did not progress the City’s bid past Stage 1 of the process, there are other approvals that must occur at the will of the Province. To continue in a clear, transparent and well-communicated process, we ask Lakeridge Health to release all submissions made to the Independent Expert Panel for public review, along with the Independent Expert Panel assessments of each submission. 

I have advocated, with the full support of Council, for a new Lakeridge Health Acute Care Hospital to be located in north Oshawa. I will continue to advocate and highlight the unique attributes of the two City sites that make them the best sites in Durham Region for a new Lakeridge Health Acute Care Hospital with a Level II Trauma Centre.

City of Oshawa Proposal Documents

• Lakeridge Health Phase 1 Bid Submission: Report 
• January 31 2022 Capital Hill Group Presentation to Council
• Council Report CNCL 21-84: Update on New Lakeridge Health Hospital Process
• Development Services Committee Report DS-19-150: New Lakeridge Health Hospital - Preferred Location in the Northerly Portion of Oshawa’s Major Urban Area

Attachments

• Statement from Oshawa Mayor Dan Carter on making the case for the new hospital to be located in Oshawa