It isn't a never, just not right now.

Ontario's Health Minister is re-affirming plans to one day build a new West Lincoln Memorial Hospital.  The $136-million project was shelved in the recent provincial budget as a cost-cutting measure.

Deb Matthews tells 610 CKTB's Kevin Jack, she's sure the project will at some point move forward, but for now the government has to "slow down".  Matthews says it's important to her that there's money to spend on hospital staff who provide excellent care.

Wednesday some 12 000 people rallied in Grimsby to have the West Lincoln Memorial Hospital build re-instated.

The Health Minister understands how important hospitals are & the emotional attachment communities have to them.  She says she knows West Niagara is very much behind its hospital & its redevelopment.

Matthews says she was surprised though by Niagara West-Glanbrook MPP Tim Hudak's apparently sudden focus on the hospital project.  She says the PC leader has been hitting the government hard every day in Question Period about spending too much money.  Matthews says Hudak didn't raise the issue of West Lincoln Memorial Hospital until 12 000 people showed up to express the will of the community.

Listen to Kevin Jack's full interview with Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews here.

Related story: 12 000 attend rally for West Lincoln Memorial Hospital