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
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Testifying in hush money trial, adult film actor Stormy Daniels describes first meeting Trump
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential election 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
Katy Perry's mom was fooled by AI images of the singer at the Met Gala
Katy Perry did not attend the Met Gala on Monday, but some of the singer’s fans – and even her mom – thought she did.