Court rules against group opposing Windsor's mega-hospital location

A group opposed to the location of Windsor'snew mega hospital has lost another court decision and has been ordered to pay legal fees to the city and the hospital.

Citizens for an Accountable Mega Hospital Planning Process (CAMPP) was trying to get an extension on a deadline to challenge elementsof previous ruling in the hospital's favourthat was handed down last summer. In July, a judgedeniedthe group's request for anappeal of the2019 decision that green-lit the hospital's new location.

In a decision Wednesday, Superior Court Justice D.L. Corbettdenied anextension for the review the group was seeking, sayingthe proposed appeal was "devoid of merit."

CAMPPhas been ordered to pay $15,000 to Windsor Regional Hospitalas well as $12,500 to the City of Windsor for costs incurred during the proceedings.

In a statement, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens said he hopes this is "the end of the challenges"

Earlier this year, the province allocated$9.8 million to "support the ongoing planning" of the new acute care hospital. The location of the hospital,a 24-hectaresite atCounty Road 42 and the 9th Concession, sparkedcriticism fromCAMPP. The primary argumenthas been that thenew location is too far removed from the core of the city.

The group has raised concerns about losing access toWindsor Regional Hospital Metropolitan and Ouellette locations.The acute care facility will replace those facilities.

CAMPP has been in a number of court proceedings over the past few years.The group had attempted to convince the Ontario Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT)that the hospital's planned location was flawed and should be denied.

Next steps

The acute care facility is currently in stage two of the planning process.

David Musyj, president and CEO of Windsor Regional Hospital, released a statement regarding the decision.

"This decision, once again, makes it abundantly clear that we need to now focus on getting this new acute care hospital built. We have lost a lot of valuable time when time is of the essence," Musyj said.

"COVID-19 has made it obvious how critically we need a new acute care hospital in Windsor/Essex for our region and Province as a whole. We cannot continue to operate a hospital in tarps and temporary venting."

CBCWindsor reached out to CAMPP's spokespersonPhilippaVon Ziegenweidt. She was unable to comment at the time.