Ottawa Hospital asks city for $150 million to support new Civic Campus
The Ottawa Hospital is asking the city of Ottawa to contribute $150 million for the development of its new state-of-the-art Civic Campus.
A report for the city’s finance and economic development committee meeting on May 3 says the Ottawa Hospital has requested a "one-time municipal local share contribution" of up to $150 million to support the new $2.8-billion hospital development near Dow's Lake.
Staff are proposing the establishment of a "financial framework and guiding principles framework" to provide staff with a "high-level roadmap" to explore options to support the Ottawa Hospital project and report back to council during the next term.
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.
Staff say there are multiple "unique-to-Ottawa opportunities" to be explored to support the hospital, including the parking garage lease renewal at the Ottawa Hospital General Campus, development opportunities at the existing Civic Campus and the treatment of development charges for "off-site capital" projects.
"Other opportunities for exploration include special one-time contributions and potential partnership opportunities," the report says.
One opportunity being explored is a "special area development charge" that would allow the city to complete the off-site work, funded 90 per cent through development charges.
Since amalgamation, the city has never contributed cash for the local share of hospital construction.
The price tag for the new Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus is $2.8 billion. Earlier this week, the Ottawa Hospital Foundation launched a $500-million fundraising campaign to support the project..
The Ontario government will cover 90 per cent of the cost of the new Civic Campus, with the Ottawa Hospital Foundation and the hospital required to pay for the remaining costs of the new hospital.
Staff say other Ontario municipalities have made voluntary contributions to the local cost shares of new community hospitals. The County of Essex contributed $100 million to the new Windsor-Essex Hospital System through a dedicated reserve funded from annual tax contribution. Halton Region contributed $94 million in road and sewer work for the new Milton District Hospital.
The city of Ottawa's $150 million contribution would not be required until substantial completion of the new hospital in 2028.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.