Wayne Redekop says Fort Erie is close enough to benefit from South Niagara site
Fort Erie's mayor says there are too many benefits to his town for it not to directly contribute $3-million to the South Niagara hospital.
Niagara Falls is the other regional municipality directly putting money into the hospital... over $30-million. All taxpayers in the region are contributing on a regional basis.
Wayne Redekop points out Fort Erie lost out on an opportunity roughly 15 years ago. "And the new location of the South Niagara hospital, is relatively close to a good part of Fort Erie, and is significantly closer than people having to run to the far part of St. Catharines."
He adds if the hospital, being built in Niagara Falls, were put in Fort Erie, the town's contribution would definitely go up.
Fort Erie's mayor understands why other cities such as St. Catharines have not directly contributed.
He adds it can be difficult for mayors to explain to local taxpayers why they are helping another city. "And in terms of St. Catharines, their services are met currently with the St. Catharines hospital. So, it's hard for me to imagine they're going to want to put money into a facility in Niagara Falls, which is going to be providing the same services as they're getting where they are."
Redekop also says the majority of funding needs to come from the province, since hospitals are a provincial mandate, and Queen's Park has a larger well of tax money to draw from. That's the way the system was designed.
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