Maroc - MYMUSKOKANOW.COM - A La Une - 16/Jul 13:50

Hospital redevelopment plan needs district approval before fall submission

Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) must make it past the District of Muskoka council's "guardrails" before submitting its hospital redevelopment proposal to the Ministry of Health.  During its July 15 meeting, council spent nearly two hours discussing a motion by Muskoka Lakes' Mayor Peter Kelley and District Coun. Guy Burry. Kelley said they made a "naked commitment to contribute" when they agreed to provide $77.3 million commitment to MAHC's local share.  In the end, they agreed to make the money conditional, pending council approving the final proposal before MAHC submits it to the Ministry of Health this fall. They set the district's Oct. 21, 2024 meeting as the target date for that approval.  The motion also included a point that District Chair Jeff Lehman would take a more prominent role in working with stakeholders "to advocate for the district."  "This district council wants to make sure that, ultimately, the hospital redevelopment plan serves all parts of the community, serves all parts of the district well," said Lehman after the meeting. He added how they need to let the experts plan for and design the hospitals, while council plays the role of ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent wisely. "Every member of district council represents one part of Muskoka," he continued. "Together we represent a whole region that has a huge opportunity in front of it."  Lehman said he's been involved behind-the-scenes but understands district council wants him to take a more prominent role. He added he believes the issues can be solved, but only if engagement not only continues. Lehman suggested that if people hear positivity about the plan from healthcare professionals, they will listen.  Huntsville's Mayor Nancy Alcock and the municipalities' three other district representatives Dan Armour, Scott Morrison, and Bob Stone were the only ones who voted against the motion.  Armour, backed by Morrison, put forward a motion to defer the decision based on what was originally tabled, which included a section describing the "Made-in-Muskoka healthcare system" proposal "drastically altered" from what district council had in front of them last year.  Alcock added her concern with the latter two words.  "That leaves the impression that we are now saying MAHC has to go back out there and redesign their option because it's drastically different from what we all expected," she continued. "Well, not in my eyes. But we're basically saying we're starting from scratch. That may not be the intent, but there will be people who think that's what we're asking for."  However, as the discussion reached the hour-and-a-half mark, Armour and Morrison agreed to withdraw the motion.  The pair were spurred by council agreeing they shouldn't be the decision-makers when it comes to the design of the future hospitals in Bracebridge and Huntsville, but they should ensure the proposal meets the needs of their constituents based on yet-to-be-set "guardrails."  District Coun. for the Township of Georgian Bay Brian Bochek was the first of many to use the term when he detailed how residents in the township are unlikely to use either hospital, despite their tax dollars being part of the district's local share commitment.  "Our residents are very concerned about the cost involved in this and they want to see guardrails put in place and have some sort of accountability," he said, adding how most residents travel to Midland, Orillia, or Barrie for their care.  The discussion came a few days after Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Graydon Smith released a statement saying, in part, "the funding for these projects is not going anywhere."  The meeting was attended by Cheryl Harrison, president and chief executive officer of MAHC, Alasdair Smith, vice president of corporate services and chief financial officer, and Dave Uffelmann, board chair.  "I thought it was a really good discussion," said Uffelmann. "People came with quite different points of view and over the course of a couple of hours they came together and were, largely, unanimous."  Smith added how they heard clearly that council wants more information about the proposal and the issues some residents have with it. He shared how MAHC has held meetings with some councils already and more are scheduled.  "Is there an expectation that we've solved 100 percent of the issues before we get to the final plan," asked Smith. "No."  However, he said there is an expectation that MAHC will work with the right people who can help inform them during the process not just now, but over the next decade as plan - and technology - continues to evolve.  "We will always need to be flexible," added Smith.  Almaguin Highlands' Mayor Rod Ward and members of the Save South Muskoka Hospital Committee were also in attendance.  District council's debate about its local share commitment happened a couple of weeks after Bracebridge council moved to put conditions on its local share contribution.  The post Hospital redevelopment plan needs district approval before fall submission appeared first on My Muskoka Now.