David Musyj, CEO, Windsor Regional Hospital, Janice Kaffer, CEO Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital and Dave Cooke, co-chair of the Hospital Planning Committee delivered their 40th plus info-session about the history and status of the proposed Mega Hospital for Windsor-Essex.
The session took place before a mixed group of about 75 residents and outside visitors at Lifetimes on Riverside retirement home. A power-point presentation provided a visual chronology of the Mega Hospital project timeline to date.
During the Q & A session at the end of the presentation, former Ward 6 candidate John S. Holmes entered into a contentious back and forth with Cooke and Musyj. Holmes criticized the selection committee for failing to disclose important information that was only discovered afterwards by a citizen through a Freedom of Information Request.
He also questioned the committee’ s timing in bringing the question of municipal funding before Windsor City Council at the 11th hour during their budget sessions. And finally, he was critical of the selected site location and the $300 million he claimed it would need from the municipality for infrastructure development in that area.
Both Cooke and Musyj responded to each of Homes’ questions and then urged all those present who were in support of this project to join others in the ‘silent majority’ to lobby their MPP’s and the Minster of Health and indicate their support for this project.
The new mega hospital site is located on County Rd. 42 which is a major transportation hub. The site is near the future Lauzon Parkway expansion and interchange at Highway 401 and Highway #3 which runs parallel to the Little River Natural Lands area which and is supposed to include multi-use trails that will connect to the city’s Greenway System.
Joe with David Musyj – CEO Windsor Regional Hospital
Story, photos and interview by Joe McParland.
