Appeal Update: Great Participation!

People who wanted to add their names to our LPAT appeal had until last week to throw their hats into the ring. A whopping 29 participants, as concerned as we are about the mega-plan, stepped forward! You can see who they are, as well as their arguments, by clicking below:

CLICK HERE TO SEE WHAT THEY WROTE

Who doesn't support good governance, transparency and analysis? For five years, hospital planners welcomed supportive opinions, while disparaging public expressions of concern. Just when the rubber is about to hit the road, don’t believe people who are now saying that it's time to move on. Our appeal is about ensuring all the proper steps have been taken, before our region makes a decision with health, economic and environmental consequences that will affect our well-being for generations to come.  While we wait for our case to be heard, it's time to let this important and independent tribunal process play out.

These Optics aren't Good

BizX: Explosive allegations that affect the public purse Were you able to pick up your copy of this month's edition of BizX yet? It contains alarming allegations of irregularities in the mega-hospital site selection process three years ago. Yet no other media outlets have ever investigated this. We're waiting to hear how our healthcare oversight body, the Erie St. Clair LHIN, who also sat on the Hospital Steering Committee, are planning to follow up. The allegations were made by Rick Spencer, the consulting engineer for the two shortlisted hospital sites. His firm's site servicing report shows existing access to the 75 acre GEM site via Tecumseh Road East (to the south) and Lauzon Parkway (to the east). Lauzon Parkway leads to an excellent connection to E.C. Row Expressway 4 km to the south.

How much extra will taxpayers be on the hook for? The BizX article alleges the access road was inexplicably switched (without consultation with Mr. Spencer) across the CN railway tracks to Jefferson Boulevard, which is to the west of the property. In this way, the County Road 42 site appears to be the more favourable of the two. Neither Jefferson nor County Road 42 is in as good a condition anywhere near that of the better-maintained and wider Lauzon Parkway. In this way, taxpayers will be on the hook for tens of millions of dollars in road upgrades to County Road 42 that weren't reflected in the site selection evaluation. These extra upgrades weren't considered by Windsor's self-described cost averse City Council, who rushed to approve the location on active farmland, instead of taking the time to do a thorough cost analysis. Are you angry that Windsor Regional Hospital told us there's nothing to see?

A fair and transparent procurement process? The RFP (Request For Proposals) process, which was supposedly followed for the hospital site selection, is a provincial process. From the Ontario Government`s Procurement website: The Ontario government is committed to open, fair and transparent procurement processes.