THUNDER BAY -- Thunder Bay's city manager has reached out to members of city council to clarify the city's role in funding cardiovascular surgery at the Health Sciences Centre.
In response to a question from a councillor at the council meeting on Monday, Norm Gale had initially indicated that provincial funding for the new program is contingent on City of Thunder Bay funding,
On Wednesday, in an interview with tbnewswatch.com, Gale said he had inadvertently misstated the situation.
He explained that while there is a requirement for "local funding" for these kinds of projects, that doesn't necessarily mean there must be a contribution from the municipal government.
Gale said he has made councillors aware of that now, and has also had "good discussions" with the office of Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro.
The question came up when the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation sent a deputation to council requesting $1.5 million for the cardiac surgery project.
The Foundation is trying to raise about $10 million in total, which would go toward 10 per cent of the cost of a required addition or retrofit at the hospital, and 100 per cent of the capital cost of equipment.
City council as yet has made no decision on the request for a contribution.
Mauro issued his own statement on Wednesday emphasizing that provincial funding comprised of 90 per cent of the construction cost and 100 per cent of the ongoing operating costs is "a firm commitment" that is not conditional on support from any specific source.
Mauro said the Health Sciences Foundation will approach a variety of sources including the corporate community, foundations, individuals and area municipalities.
Under a provincial formula, "there has always been a capital requirement from communities" for this kind of hospital project, he said. If Thunder Bay city council were to decide not to contribute in this instance, "the Hospital Foundation will simply be tasked with having to find the money from other sources. It's as straight up as that."
Mauro said it's anticipated that the cardiovascular surgery program will be fully operational by 2020.
A spokesperson for the foundation could not be reached on Wednesday for comment.
