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Town council approves $130M for new hospital Oakville's Town council pre-approved $130 million in its 2015 capital budget for its local share commitment to the new Oakville hospital at Monday's council meeting. Councillors also approved the terms for the transfer of the Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital site to the town. What's called the Local Share Master Legal Agreement with Halton Healthcare Services (HHS), which sets out the amount and timing of the contribution, will go to the HHS board in February for approval. "Council's vision to support a new state-ofthe-art hospital will come to life in December 2015, providing our community with new and improved healthcare services," said Mayor Rob Burton. "Additionally, this facility will create opportunities for jobs, development of an adjacent new life sciences park and new community facilities on old hospital lands." The Town's $130 million contribution needs to be made to HHS three weeks prior to the substantial completion of the new hospital, scheduled for July 2015, according to the Town. The municipality expects to raise up to $90 million of the contribution through debt debenture financing and to transfer the remaining $40 million from a reserve that was established from Oakville Hydro's sale of Blink Communications in 2010. Debt financing charges from the debenture will be funded from revenues earned by Oakville The 1.6 million-sq.-ft. hospital is expected to set a new standard for inpatient care design in Canada, combining innovative architecture and the latest in technology to deliver high-quality patient and family-centered care efficiently. The HHS single-patient room design is leading edge in terms of patient accommodation and infection prevention and control with hand wash stations located within view of the patient. Dropped sill windows will enhance patients' views and dedicated staff, patient and family areas will enrich a patient's experience, according to the Town's statement. "Building a new hospital for Oakville is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Oakville resident Denise Hardenne, HHS President and CEO. "We have benefitted from the tremendous support we received from the Town of Oakville, both in terms of financial support and through its contributions at the board level and as a member of the Capital Planning Advisory Committee. With the support of the Town of Oakville, Halton Healthcare Services will be successfully delivering on its April 2010 promise to make the new Oakville hospital a reality." For more information on the new Oakville hospital, visit haltonhealthcare.on.ca. To view the report, Financial and Legal Agreements Related to the Town's Contribution to the new Oakville Hospital, visit oakville.ca. 3 | Thursday, January 29, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Oakville Beaver file photo of construction work progressing on the new Oakville hospital on Dundas Street at Third Line. Town council finalized its local contribution this week. The hospital is scheduled to open in December 2015. | Oakville Beaver file photo Hydro's energy projects and will have no impact on Oakville Hydro electricity rates or Town taxes, according to a statement issued by the Town shortly after Monday's council meeting. "The Town's $130 million contribution will not raise property taxes -- Council has delivered on its commitment," said Burton. The Region of Halton will issue the debt debenture on behalf of Oakville this spring. The Town will receive title to the old hospital site at the same time that the local share contribution is made. However, vacant possession of the site is not expected until March 2016, to provide HHS with sufficient time to decommission the old hospital building. According to HHS officials, construction of the new Oakville hospital at Third Line and Dundas is now more than 90 per cent complete and the hospital is on schedule to open in December 2015. INJURED? I Can Help! YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY UNLESS I GET YOU MONEY My team of experienced lawyers can help you with: · Car accidents · Slip and Falls · Disability Claims (Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, CPP) · Wrongful Dismissal OFFICES IN OAKVILLE AND TORONTO For a free consultation call: Oakville: 905.842.2022 or Toronto: 416.351.9222 email: sspadafora@slspc.ca Sam Spadafora Injury and Employment Law