Grey Highlands council has supported a joint letter intended to express local solidarity in support of a new Collingwood Hospital on Poplar Sideroad.
At its meeting on March 6, council voted 6-1 in favour of offering support for the letter, which initially was to be signed by the mayors of five local communities - Collingwood, Clearview, The Blue Mountains, Grey Highlands and Wasaga Beach - served by the hospital.
The letter was to be sent to deputy premier and health minister Sylvia Jones to indicate local support for a brand new hospital facility on Poplar Sideroad.
The letter has generated headlines and controversy recently after Collingwood council voted to reject the letter and Collingwood Mayor Yvonne Hamlin said she would not add her signature to the document.
Grey Highlands Mayor Paul McQueen brought the letter to the council table at the March 6 meeting. The letter initially appeared on the consent agenda for the meeting, but McQueen lifted the item for further discussion.
After briefing his council on the origins of the joint letter, McQueen expressed his full support for the Poplar Sideroad location for the new hospital.
“This makes sense, it’s a regional hospital. The green space makes sense,” he said.
The mayor said the hospital employs residents of Grey Highlands and has an obstetrics department that serves the larger community. He said he felt the proposed Poplar Sideroad location would make the hospital more accessible, while also opening up prime land in Collingwood for other uses.
Council would normally receive an item on the consent agenda for information, but McQueen moved a resolution to endorse the letter. Coun. Joel Loughead was the lone vote against the letter’s endorsement. Loughead did not speak to the issue during the discussion.
McQueen acknowledged the recent twists, turns and controversy generated by Collingwood’s rejection of the letter.
“There is a little bit of politics going on,” McQueen said of the situation.
Prior to Collingwood’s decision, The Blue Mountains council voted to support the letter.
The lack of support from Collingwood council did cause some hesitation for members of council.
“The host municipality doesn’t want to support (the letter),” said Coun. Paul Allen. “I’d like to know why before we support it.”
Coun. Tom Allwood referred to CollingwoodToday’s stories on the matter, which included coverage of Collingwood’s position.
“Collingwood’s mayor has already sent a letter saying the same thing,” Allwood noted.
The fate of the joint letter remains up in the air. Clearview Mayor and hospital board member Doug Measures led the efforts to draft the letter in consultation with the other four mayors.
Measures told CollingwoodToday that they would have a discussion on how to proceed.
“I want to have a better understanding of whether we’re all comfortable with just the four of us signing it, or if we just don’t send it at all,” Measures explained. “The reality is, it’s been well covered in the media and the letter is a public document.”
With files from Jessica Owen
