An appeal surrounding the location of the proposed new acute care hospital in Windsor is moving to the next level.
The lawyer representing The Citizens for an Accountable Mega-Hospital Planning Process (CAMPP) said in a news release Tuesday afternoon that their appeal will be proceeding to a full hearing before the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT). LPAT is the former Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) and hears cases regarding municipal planning, financial and land matters.
He said the decision was released Tuesday morning and LPAT has determined “based on the breadth and nature of the likely issues before it in this appeal, it requires the benefit of an oral hearing.”
“Our client is extremely pleased with this outcome,” said Eric Gillespie, legal counsel for CAMPP. “The tribunal has agreed many significant issues have been raised by CAMPP. For those, including the mayor, who did not seem to understand the importance of this appeal, it’s now clear from an objective perspective they were wrong. CAMPP looks forward to continuing its appeal to a successful conclusion.”
Gillespie said LPAT has directed the parties to continue working on a formal list of issues, which if not agreed to within 15 days can be addressed before the tribunal in writing. He added the parties have also been directed to prepare an agreed statement of facts within 45 days.
CAMPP is appealing the hospital site at County Road 42 and 9th Concession because the plan decreases access to hospital-based health care services for the majority of Windsor’s population, puts the hospital too far away for most vulnerable patients in Windsor, and will kill the downtown area as residents move to be closer to services. It has previously argued that the city's information to justify the location is outdated.
Windsor Regional Hospital released a statement Tuesday afternoon that said it is pleased with the interim decision of LPAT "on some preliminary matters and creating focus on the issues that will be subject of appeal."
The hospital added it is pleased that this matter is moving forward.
"Any delay to this very important infrastructure project for the Windsor/Essex healthcare system needs to be avoided," the statement read. "Any delay negatively impacts patient care."
The hospital added it is hard to comment any further because this process is relatively new following new legislation.
