Windsor Regional Hospital CEO David Musyj says county council is showing true leadership in supporting a cost sharing plan to build a new hospital and restructure healthcare services in the region.
Musyj was in Toronto on Wednesday speaking with ministry officials regarding the project and says having support from local officials is key.
"That's huge. That changed the whole tone of the meeting really fast and that's what it's going to take for this project to move forward," says Musyj. "It sends a huge message to the ministry of health and the premier that we are ready to move this project forward."
Musyj feels the support from the County of Essex is crucial in showing the region is serious about the project and those wanting to restart the planning process make up only a small fraction of area residents.
"It's not as if we can say, 'Oh well we can play around with it for the next four years because technically it won't be built for seven to ten years,'" says Musyj. "No, that's not the case. If you start over. You're starting over and if you think the ministry is going to give us $3-million to start over, you're dreaming in technicolour. That's not going to happen."
The cost sharing plan outlines how the $200-million local share of the $2-billion project will be split.
Windsor city councillors will vote on the plan on Monday.