Ottawa Hospital CEO 'surprised' by NCC's choice for new Civic site

The head of the Ottawa Hospital is hoping to sit down with all levels of government early next week to discuss his concerns over the National Capital Commission's choice ofTunney's Pasture as its preferred site for the new Civic campus.

The hospital had been looking to rebuild the Civic on 24 hectares of Central Experimental Farm lands, across the street from its existing location.

• Questions linger after NCC picks Tunney's Pasture for new Civic hospital

• Tunney's Pasture picked as NCC's top site for new Civic hospital

"I'm surprised because we did have some concerns, and it wasn't in our top choices," Dr. Jack Kitts, president and CEO of the Ottawa Hospital, said on Friday.

Kitts said he wasn't necessarily disappointedthat Tunney's was chosen, but does wantto "sit down quickly" with federal, provincial and municipal officials to "come up with a response to our concerns around access, timelines and costs."

The hospital has expressed concerns about how emergency vehicles will access the site from the Queensway, and about how long it will take to demolish and redevelop the western portion of Tunney's Pasture.

Demolition talks '1st order of business'

Kitts said the question of who will pay to demolish existing buildings at the site would be the "first order of business" when he meets with government officials.

"I didn't see a cost analysis, at least at first blush, in the NCC report. But again, it's early days," Kitts said.

MPP Yasir Naqvi, whose riding includes both the existing Civic campus and Tunney's Pasture, said on Friday that he plans to work "in partnership" with all those involved.

"It's important now that we roll up our sleeves, and work closely with of course our federal government, because they have to make the final decision, but also work very closely with the OttawaHospitalto determine both the feasibility and the viability of Tunney's," said Naqvi.

The NCC board is expected to officially recommend the site to Heritage Minister Mlanie Joly in the next week.

The final decision on where to locate the Civic rests with the hospital, but there is a limited supply of available land in the core of the city.