Premier Doug Ford visited Collingwood yesterday, in part, to visit the hospital and talk about a future hospital, according to the mayor and MPP.
While the visit was well-photographed and splashed over the premier's and town's social media channels after he left town, news media was not invited.
Collingwood Mayor Yvonne Hamlin said Ford visited the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital, town hall, and the Eddie Bush Memorial Arena where he met the Junior A Collingwood Blues.
"I received a call and said 'Yes, we would love to have him here,'" said Hamlin in a phone interview today.
Ford met with the hospital's chief of staff, Dr. Michael Lisi, nurses and doctors and other administrative staff and took a tour of the hospital.
Simcoe-Grey MPP Brian Saunderson confirmed Ford visited the hospital and showed "support" for the hospital redevelopment, which is in the third phase of five with an application before the province awaiting approval before the next phase can begin.
Part of the sticking point for the new hospital has been whether the province will approve a new hospital on 30 acres of land on Poplar Sideroad donated for the purpose, or whether the province will require the current hospital site be redeveloped instead.
In a public statement put out by Mayor Hamlin yesterday evening, she noted the premier specifically referred to a new hospital built on Poplar Sideroad.
"During his visit, I am pleased to say he repeated several times his pledge to build a new hospital on Poplar Sideroad," reads the mayor's statement.
According to the mayor, Ford, more than once said "I'm going to get you a new hospital" to people passing him in the hall during the tour.
“He wasn’t writing a cheque; he was doing a tour. Now, we’ll work with his office and the Ministry of Health to make this happen shortly, I hope. When he makes his mind up, sometimes things get done,” said Hamlin.
Ford's office didn't return requests for comments to confirm what he said during his visit.
Saunderson clarified the support he heard coming from the premier.
“We spoke about the redevelopment – the size and cost due to the location. The premier was very supportive,” said Saunderson, who was also in attendance. “The premier expressed his commitment to help us get the hospital we need. Announcements and financial commitments will come from the Ministry of Health.
“It was a very positive sign,” he said.
Hamlin said during her meeting, she also spoke with Ford about provincially-linked concerns facing Collingwood, such as the water treatment plant expansion and a lack of family doctors.
When asked why media wasn’t invited or informed, Saunderson said plans for the visit came together quickly.
“It was very last-minute. It was put together in the 24 hours before. The premier’s goal was to get in, have these meetings and be on his way,” he said.
Hamlin said the intention of the visit was to have working meetings. She said the decision to not invite media came from the premier’s office.
“There were no announcements. I had a stack of photos and statistics. These working meetings happen all the time with the premier and the media isn’t invited,” she said.