Plans to build a new hospital in Brantford took a major step forward on Thursday when Premier Doug Ford visited the city, Brant Community Healthcare System officials say.
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“This is a very exciting day for Brantford, Brant County and the region,” Paul Emerson of the healthcare system’s redevelopment committee said. “It’s a long process but this is a big step forward.”
Healthcare system officials were told that the province would be providing them with a planning grant in support of building a new hospital. The grant will help healthcare officials continue to plan for the new facility.
As well, healthcare system officials heard the province will be providing funding to assist with the critical infrastructure problems at the aging Brantford General Hospital.
The hospital has had problems with boiler breakdowns as well as a sinkhole in a utility tunnel.
Ford was at Anderson Park in Brantford on Thursday to attend a barbecue hosted by Brantford-Brant MPP Will Bouma.
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During his speech to a large crowd, Ford invited Bonnie Camm, president and CEO of the healthcare system, to join him at the podium.
“Bonnie is a real champion, she takes care of people, you couldn’t ask for a better CEO of a hospital,” Ford said. “I’m not sure what needed to be fixed, but Bonnie sure did and we’re going to get that fixed.
“We’re going to take care of that issue.”
“We’ll make sure that happens and I want to thank you for your work, your dedication and your leadership,” Ford said to Camm.
Camm said it was an honor and privilege to be at the barbecue and hear the news from the first.
Emerson said it has taken a lot of work by a lot of people including the mayors and Bouma, to get the new hospital initiative this far.
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Mayor Kevin Davis, who also attended the barbecue, said it was “very promising” that the first brought Camm onto the speaker’s podium and included her in his remarks.
Bouma told the crowd that he and the first share a vision for the community and how it can grow.
“How we can have jobs, how we can have all of the things that people need,” Bouma said. “By having a close relationship, we’ve been able to get so much done for this community.”
Work on a new hospital is underway and a new high school – St. Padre Pio Catholic Secondary School – is being built, Bouma said.
“We’re so excited about the partnership that we have with the Catholic school board and seeing construction on the new school getting underway,” Bouma said.
“We’re also getting a new Lansdowne Children’s Centre,” Bouma said, which drew an enthusiastic round of applause from the crowd.
Bouma said he and his wife Joni visited Anderson Park a month ago and decided it would be perfect for his barbecue.
“It’s such a beautiful spot,” Bouma said.
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