GORE BAY—The Town of Gore Bay and St. Joseph’s Health Centre received the long-awaited news in last week’s provincial budget that a top-up funding program has been reinstated for construction of long-term care homes. With this news, St. Joseph’s will now be able to apply for funding towards the construction of a new proposed 64 bed long term care nursing home in Gore Bay.
“This is what we have all been waiting for since last fall, that the money for a program that helps with construction of long-term care homes would be in the provincial budget,” stated Gore Bay Mayor Ron Lane. “The provincial budget has made extra money available ($155 million) for long term care construction redevelopment, so St. Joseph’s is ready to move forward with an application for funding of a new nursing home in Gore Bay.”
“This is very, very good news,” stressed Mayor Lane. He explained that St. Joseph’s will now make a formal application for funding approval of the project. “We (the town and St. Joseph’s) made a presentation to the ministry in January on the plans for the project.”
Kari Gervais, president and chief executive officer of St. Joseph’s Health Centre told The Expositor last Thursday, “Yes, this is great news. It is the news we have been hoping for. We are very pleased that the ministry has reinstated the construction funding subsidy top-up, which is for $35 per resident per day for 25 years. It is great news; if this program had not been reinstated, we would not be able to move ahead with an application for funding of the Gore Bay construction project through the Ministry of Long-Term Care.”
“We need to have approval for construction by November 30, 2024,” said Ms. Gervais. “When we submitted a proposal in December for funding approval, which is step one of a three step process, it was based on the ministry funding that was available at the time. However, the top-up funding through the ministry was not there, but now it has been reinstated.”
Mr. Gervais pointed out, “even if we receive final funding approval for the project, we will still be required to fundraise. Without the top-up program we would have required a loan of $38 million. As long as we are approved for the top-up funding our loan will be $13 million, which is much more manageable.”
Mayor Lane said St. Joseph’s will now revise the formal application, and if it is approved, “then we can be more confident that the new nursing home will definitely be constructed.”
Gore Bay officials met with St. Joseph’s Health Centre and Jarlette Health Services representatives last Thursday. “So the funding application will now go forward and the building design will need to be finalized by the architect, Louis Belanger,” said Mayor Lane. The deadline for getting approval from the ministry to construct the home is November 30 of this year. Construction could start by August 2025, although if funding is approved prior to this date construction can start earlier, he said.
“It’s all good news,” stated Mayor Lane. “Now we have a clearer direction, and we will be hosting another public information session in late April or early May with St. Joseph’s, Jarlette, the architect, to provide information to Manitoulin Lodge staff, residents and family members and get further input on the updated designs. I have seen the architect’s revised design for the new nursing home; they have taken into account input provided at the meeting held earlier this year.”
“We are extremely happy and excited with the news provided by the province,” said Mayor Lane. “This is what we have been waiting for and this is a major stop in the right direction and all that work that we have all done so far is going to help.”
