Whitby has launched a campaign to pressure the province for a long-promised hospital

The town of Whitby is launching a public awareness and letter-writing campaign to force the province to move into the long-promised hospital.

The previous provincial government first proposed a new acute care hospital for Durham Region in 2015.

In 2022, an independent panel identified a 50-acre site near Highways 412 and 407 in Whitby as a suitable site for a regional health center.

“For two years we've been patient, but we can't wait any longer,” Mayor Elizabeth Roy told reporters Wednesday.

Roy is calling on the Ford Government to provide $3 million to enable planning and design work to begin, as well as a commitment to the Whitby site.

The city is spreading its message through billboards, doctor's office notices, social media and newspapers, and is encouraging residents to submit notes to Premier Doug Ford through its website.

Durham Region's population is expected to double to 1.3 million by 2051, according to the city. With hospital construction potentially taking a decade, Roy says the government must act now to add energy to an already strained health system.

“(These are) new families with children. These kids are sick. These elderly people also experience time and delays in emergency situations in the corridors before going to bed.”

Pickering Mayor Kevin Ash agrees the Durham hospital is overdue, but believes it should be located in his city, the only Durham municipality without a hospital.

“We acknowledge that Whitby was nominated as the preferred site for the new Lakeridge Hospital through community consultation,” wrote Hannah Jensen, spokeswoman for Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones.

“We will continue to work closely with Lakeridge Health and other partners on the next round of planning grants for this project to provide more connected, convenient care in Durham Region for years to come.”