In the court action between the City of Guelph, the Wellington Dufferin Guelph Board of Health and the Counties of Wellington and Dufferin, the parties involved have agreed to proceed with a final determination of the issues between the parties in the Superior Court of Justice in Guelph on Monday, September 12, 2011.
In the interests of streamlining the procedure and reducing costs to the parties, all of which are publically-funded entities, the City has agreed to not pursue obtaining a further interim injunction and a full trial. Instead, arguments on the merits of the issues in dispute will be heard in court on September 12.
The City will argue that the Board of Health does not have the right to impose debt on the City without the consent of Guelph’s elected City Council. The City will request that the current interim injunction prohibiting the Board from proceeding with its plan to build a new Guelph headquarters continue until a judgment is granted by the court.
Under the Board of Health’s plan to build and own new facilities, Guelph taxpayers would pay 40 per cent more for public health services each year due to the proposed building in Guelph, Guelph’s share of public health costs would increase from $68,000 to $988,000 annually, and the project would add $10.8 million to the City’s outstanding debt.
The City is also seeking a determination of its right to withdraw from the Health Unit.