OTTAWA CITIZEN, By Jon Willing

Politicians from all three levels of government – including Ottawa Centre MP Catherine McKenna – stood with Ottawa Hospital officials Friday brushing off the National Capital Commission’s recommendation to build a new Civic hospital at Tunney’s Pasture, and instead calling for the $2-billion regional health centre to be built on the eastern end of the Central Experimental Farm.

The Sir John Carling site, they said, should be home to the relocated hospital.

The site is “the best location to build the hospital of the future,” Mayor Jim Watson said at a news conference at city hall.

“Overall the Sir John Carling site is a win for the patients and the residents of Ottawa,” Watson said, flanked by local MPs, MPPs and city councillors.

The unanimity is a “sign we’re on the right track,” the mayor said.

McKenna said they have all agreed to “fast-track” the process to put the hospital at the Sir John Carling site.

The Sir John Carling site has “broad consensus,” McKenna said.

Ottawa Centre MPP Yasir Naqvi said he wants an agreement on the Sir John Carling property in the bag by Christmas.

Hospital officials were also at the news conference. Jamie McCracken, chair of The Ottawa Hospital board of directors, was saluted by politicians at all levels of government for stepping up so quickly. “I have to believe that’s totally unprecedented in the history of this city,” McCracken said.

After reviewing 12 possible locations for a hospital and holding a public consultation, the NCC last week recommended Tunney’s Pasture as the best location to build a relocated Civic hospital.

Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly, who’s in charge of the NCC, received the report Wednesday.

The hospital doesn’t like Tunney’s Pasture because it believes there’s poor road access to the property, high costs to demolish existing buildings and incompatibility with its plan to have a new facility built in 10 years. Local Liberal MPPs and Watson followed the hospital’s lead in rebuffing the NCC’s suggested site.

NCC chair Russell Mills said this week the agency was surprised to learn the hospital was so opposed to Tunney’s Pasture.

In its own study of the Sir John Carling site, the hospital found the property would be big enough and have adequate road access. On the other hand, the property is near a fault line and it could require a deeper underground parking garage or taller parking structures to accommodate the vehicles. The hospital has also identified at least 24 buildings and some are considered heritage.

The existing Civic hospital on Carling Avenue is 92 years old and needs replacement. It’s eastern Ontario’s regional centre for trauma care, stroke care and cardiac care.