MINDEMOYA—Derek Graham, CEO of the Manitoulin Health Centre (MHC), says verbal confirmation has been given to the Central Manitoulin Family Health Team (CMFHT) by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (MOHLTC) for approval of the capital funding required to get the CMFHT construction project completed.
“We have verbal confirmation from the ministry for the Family Health Team that they are going to support the project,” said Derek Graham, chief executive officer (CEO) of the MHC, late last week.
“The feedback we received from ministry staff is that it has been accepted and that this should allow us to go ahead with tender for the construction of the building soon,” said Mr. Graham.
Mr. Graham cautioned, however, “this is encouraging news and we’re happy but guardedly optimistic. We won’t celebrate until the plan has been signed by the minister giving the final approval and is sealed and delivered.”
“We have received the verbal confirmation the project is going to be supported but we have to get a signed contract, so we are guardedly optimistic,” added Mr. Graham.
Recently the North East Local Health Integrated Network sent a motion to the MHC indicating they are also in approval with the building being constructed on the hospital property in Mindemoya. Mr. Graham explained that the MHC had petitioned the NE LHINs to allow for the construction of the building on hospital land. It looked at the CMFHT business plan and deemed it appropriate use for this land, noting the motion passed by NE LHIN was then sent to the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (MOHLTC) capitals branch.
Approval from the primary care branch of the ministry is required for the funding of the building construction so that calls for tenders for the construction work can be sent out.
