City finance committee approves plan to find $150 million in funding for new Civic Campus
The city of Ottawa’s finance and economic development committee has taken a first step toward providing $150 million to the Ottawa Hospital to help pay for the new Civic Campus.
A report prepared for the FEDCo meeting Tuesday recommended that committee approve the financial framework and guiding principles for developing a response to the Ottawa Hospital’s request for funding from city hall.
FEDCo members approved the report unanimously.
The four "guiding principles" to support the work and recommendations are:
- Minimal to no financial burden to the taxpayers of Ottawa
- No redirection of existing and committed operating or capital budget dollars to the municipal local share
- The exploration of one time or unique financial options that are time specific and context precise
- Supports the city’s climate change goals and community sustainability.
The report says the "minimal to no burden to the taxpayers" means not increasing property taxes and ensuring the city maintains tax increases as approved by council.
The $2.8-billion project to build a new, state-of-the-art hospital near Dow’s Lake is covered primarily by the provincial government, to the tune of $2.1 billion, but the Ottawa Hospital needs additional funding from other sources. A historic, $500-million fundraiser—the largest in Ottawa’s history—was launched in April to help cover the costs. Remaining funds will come from revenues at the hospital and from the request to city council.
Executive chair of the Ottawa Hospital Foundation’s “Campaign to Create Tomorrow”, Roger Greenberg, said the fundraising campaign is nearing its mid-point.
“People are giving enthusiastically to build our new hospital. I hope this committee shares that enthusiasm,” Greenberg said.
Greenberg suggested there could be consequences if the city does not come through with the funding.
“Our situation is very simple: we either raise the local share or the province drops us down to the bottom of the list; there’s nine other hospitals that are on this list and we’ll drop down to the bottom and they’ll come back to us in 20 years from now and ask us if we’ve changed our minds,” he said.
CEO of the Ottawa Hospital Cameron Love added that the Ottawa Hospital is committed to working with the city on a plan to ensure the $150 million of local contribution is funded.
“We believe that given the extraordinary importance of our new hospital to the health of each and every Ottawa citizen, to our parents, our children, and our grandchildren, that the city of Ottawa has an obligation to ensure that all of our loved ones receive the best health care possible, and to join TOH, and the province and the federal governments, in investing in our future,” Love said.
The decision must still rise to full city council on May 11 before it is officially approved. Final decisions, however, will have to wait until the next term of council following the Oct. 24 municipal election. Staff will report back in the new term with options on how to fund the $150 million request.
The city of Ottawa's $150 million contribution would not be required until substantial completion of the new hospital in 2028.
Since amalgamation, the city has never contributed cash for the local share of hospital construction.
--With files from CTVNewsOttawa.ca's Josh Pringle.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.