Drew Dilkens warns this municipal election could determine if the new hospital project proceeds as scheduled.
Flanked by five members of the current council, Councillor Fred Francis, Councillor Ed Sleiman, Councillor Jo-Anne Gignac, Councillor Jeewen Gill, and Councillor Jim Morrison, Dilkens recommitted to seeing the hospital project over the finish line.
"The location is a settled issue, but for those who don't like the location and there are a group of them including [Windsor mayoral candidate] Chris Holt, they could simply fumble the ball at fourth and goal and make sure that the hospital doesn't happen," said Dilkens.
In 2016, the City of Windsor and County of Essex began collecting funds to cover the municipalities' 10 per cent share required for all new hospital builds in the province. Dilkens warns by stopping this collection, new council members could jeopardize the project.
"If you get six people who are elected who are not committed to the hospital project they can stop the hospital project immediately by stopping the collection of the 10 per cent share," said Dilkens.
As the Ward 4 councillor, Holt voted against the new hospital location and the collection of the tax levy. WindsorNewsToday.ca reached out to Holt for comment on his plans for health care in the city if elected.
As part of his health care platform, Dilkens also committed to continuing to work with the province for improved services in downtown.
"I also commit to working with our provincial partners and Windsor Regional Hospital to ensure that we have 24/7 emergency care services in our downtown core. Our community deserves nothing less," said Dilkens. "The hospital plan from its inception always called for the delivery of urgent care services downtown but I will fight as hard as I am for the hospital to make sure the provision of 24/7 ER services are available downtown."
Also running for Windsor mayor are Benjamin Danyluk, Aaron Day, Matthew Giancola, Ernie Lamont, and Louis Vaupotic.
The municipal election is on October 24, 2022.