Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley says his community is getting the short end of the stick from the province when it comes to tearing down an old hospital campus.
“It’s very upsetting. I expect to have the same treatment for the taxpayers of this community, that the taxpayers of London and Windsor receive, which is the province steps up and takes care of the demolition costs for the building.”
After seeing London and Windsor get millions for similar projects, Bradley says the offer of $75 thousand is a slap in the face.
It’s been closed for more than a year and the former Bluewater Health - Mitton Site has become a blight on the area and been deemed unusable.
During the 2011 election campaign Health Minister Deb Matthews pledged the better part of the $15-million estimate to decommission the former South Street campus of London’s Victoria Hospital.
And after years of negotiations the province agreed to pick up the $4-million tab to take down Grace Hospital in Windsor.
The cost to demolish the Sarnia facility has been estimated at nearly $8 million, but the province has stated it will pay just $75,000.
Mike Lapaine, vice president of operations for Bluewater Health says that barely covers maintenance of the building, let alone taking it down.
“Basically they said that at this time there is no further funding being provided for this hospital project.”
Officials say with no more money being put forward, how long the buildings stands is anyone's guess.
