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Province tells town council it won't designate hospital land yet

There's more planning to do before a site is earmarked, says provincial minister.
2016-03-24 medical clinic
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This article has been updated from a previous version.

A request sent by council last term asking for a provincial order to designate Poplar Sideroad as the location for a new hospital has been denied.

Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark sent a letter addressed to past mayor Sandra Cooper in response to council’s request, which began with a motion from Deputy Mayor Brian Saunderson (now mayor) made at a July 23 council meeting and supported by council.

“Until the hospital has proceeded further in the planning and approval process, a decision on your request for a zoning order is premature,” said Clark in the letter.

He also mentions a grant and correspondence with Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care Christine Elliott in August meant to assist the hospital in the planning process.

Lisa van Kolfschoten, communications officer for the Collingwood G&M Hospital confirmed the grant referenced in Clark’s letter was the one promised in February by Ann Hogarth (MPP in Barrie) on behalf of Dr. Eric Hoskins, then the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. Van Kolfschoten said the $500,000 promised then arrived in the hospital's redevelopment fund account this summer.

“It is through this planning process that the hospital will be formally identifying a recommended site,” states Clark’s letter. “After the proposal is submitted to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care for review, additional project and funding approvals are required by government in order to advance the proposals beyond planning.”

At the time of the decision, town council thought a ministerial order would establish the property on Poplar Sideroad adjacent to the existing Georgian College campus as the future home of a new Collingwood hospital without the need for a comprehensive municipal review to change the land zoning and allow a hospital on site, which can sometimes take up to five years.

“We remain supportive of local decision-making and processes, and look forward to working with you to achieve a positive outcome,” states Clark in his letter.

According to the Collingwood G&M Hospital website, the latest update (posted in Feburary, 2018) states the hospital is waiting for approval of its Stage 1 submission to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, which was sent Sept. 30, 2016.

The letter from Clark is part of council's agenda on Dec. 17, with the meeting beginning at 5 p.m. 


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Erika Engel

About the Author: Erika Engel

Erika regularly covers all things news in Collingwood as a reporter and editor. She has 15 years of experience as a local journalist
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