BY KEITH LACEY
The chair of the Greater Sudbury Development Board (GSDB) is demanding a meeting with Ontario?s Minister of Health Tony Clement.
The provincial Tory government?s lack of action on providing funding to allow for the completion of the Sudbury Regional Hospital into a one-site super-hospital is seriously hurting this city?s economy, says John Caruso.
?The longer there is no shovel in the ground, the more negative economic impact this is having on this community,? said Caruso, at the GSDB meeting Wednesday at Tom Davies Square.
The province appointed Graham Scott to oversee hospital financing and administration. Progress is moving at a snail?s pace, while lack of funding and action is dramatically hurting our city, said Caruso.
?Something has got to happen here,? said Caruso, following the monthly meeting. ?This has become embarrassing. If there are changes that have to be made at the hospital, then make them, but for heaven?s sake, let?s get on with this.
?This hospital project has to be completed and this government has got to provide the funding to allow for the job to get done. It?s just too important for this government to keep stickhandling and delaying things.?
The hospital originally estimated construction costs for the huge expansion at $80 million. That figure is now in excess of $300 million.
Since construction stopped and an operational review was ordered, very few people know what ?s going on. The GSDB is determined for the process to speed up and want to convey their concerns directly to Clement as quickly as possible, said Caruso.
?Let?s put politics aside and let?s get on with this thing,? he said. ?Let?s finish this hospital.?
Caruso says he?s been told numerous surgeons are now considering ?pulling up stakes and leaving? because there are no operating rooms to ply their trade.
Sudbury?s reputation as the medical referral centre for all of northeastern Ontario is also being jeopardized with the project in limbo for so many consecutive months, said Caruso.
?We?ve paid great attention to recruiting physicians in this community?What good is it if we don?t have the infrastructure in place to allow them to ply their trade,? he asked.
?This hospital project is bigger than just this city and health care concerns of only our citizens?this has affected people all across northeastern Ontario.?
This government demanded local citizens contribute to the huge hospital expansion project and every person and business owner who contributed to helping raise more than $17 million through the successful Heart and Soul Campaign should be very proud, said Caruso.
?We?ve all done our part and dug deep into our pockets to raise a record number of dollars? and now it?s time for the government to make changes if necessary to ensure cost overruns stop and provide the necessary funding to complete the hospital, said Caruso.
