Windsor mayoral candidate Chris Holt is setting the record straight on his position on the new hospital.
During a campaign announcement Tuesday, Holt pledged he will not hold back the new hospital build and presented his plan for health care in the City of Windsor.
"I will not stand in the way of the provincial plan to build a new hospital. I will work with the province and the county to fulfill our financial obligations to this project," said Holt.
As a Ward 4 councillor, Holt voted against the selected location on County Road 42 and voted against collecting the tax levy to cover the municipality's share of the costs.
Because of these votes, Mayoral candidate Drew Dilkens has stated that voting for Holt poses a risk to the project moving forward.
"This election is, for my opponent, is really about one thing, it's about killing the hospital, and doing everything he can because he doesn't like the location of the hospital," said Dilkens. "They are trying to get six people around the council table who will stop collecting the 10 per cent share that is absolutely required by the province of Ontario to see the project move forward."
Holt says that accusation is "ridiculous."
"It's all said and done now," he said. "We have to move beyond the division. We have to join together as a municipality to make this the best project that we can. We have to put down our pens and our typewriters and actually join together because we have an opportunity in Sandwich South. We have an opportunity to build, right from the ground an amazing carbon-neutral community."
Holt says if elected, he will not only support the new hospital build moving forward, he will also develop a plan for the future development of the Sandwich South lands by establishing a Sandwich South Infrastructure Task Force.
He says he will also fight for 24/7 emergency room services in the downtown core and work with the health care community to ensure all areas of the city have access to the health services they need.
In addition, he says he will establish all bus routes for the new hospital as soon as possible so that any construction workers can access the site moving forward.
Holt's health care platform can be found here.
Also running for mayor in the city of Windsor are Benjamin Danyluk, Aaron Day, Matthew Giancola, Ernie Lamont, and Louis Vaupotic.
The municipal election is on October 24, 2022.
