GORE BAY—Gore Bay town officials and the St. Joseph’s Health Centre are optimistic that top-up funding will be provided to allow for the construction of the new nursing home in Gore Bay, following a meeting with the Ministry of Long-Term Care and Housing.
“It was a very positive meeting, and the ministry was very receptive,” said Gore Bay Councillor Dan Osborne of a meeting he and town manager Harry Schlange, along with Kari Gervais, president and chief executive officer of St. Joseph’s Health Centre had with John Jordan, parliamentary assistant to the Ministry of Long-Term Care and Housing. The meeting was held at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) annual conference earlier this month.
“I am optimistic we will hear something positive in the next couple of weeks,” said Ms. Gervais.
Councillor Osborne said, “I think the meeting went very well. Kari spoke on behalf of St. Joseph’s. I gave a rundown of where we are at in the project, with St. Joseph’s taking over the licence for the beds in Gore Bay and developing a new nursing home; and the partnership this project has with St. Joseph’s, Jarlette Health Services and Manitoulin Lodge, and the community.”
“The meeting provided the opportunity to meet with Mr. Jordan, and draw to the attention of the ministry the project in Gore Bay and the unique, positive benefits being derived by the partnership we have developed with the town, Jarlette Health Services and the very supportive community members,” said Ms. Gervais. “We were also able to present the urgency of the situation and that there is some time sensitivity to the project to get the project done, with the expiration date on the licence for the beds (currently) being operated by Jarlette Health Services running out in June 2025 and the need to get started.”
“Last, but most importantly it (the meeting) provided the opportunity for us to point out the importance for the ministry to reinstate the construction funding subsidy top up program,” said Ms. Gervais. She explained this added subsidy for projects was effective from April 1-August 31, 2023. However, the program has not been reinstated as of yet.
“We were nowhere near shovel ready by that time in 2023 to go ahead,” said Ms. Gervais. “Without the top up funding we cannot afford and operate a new long term care home in Gore Bay.” She said many similar projects across the province are in the same situation.
“We are very hopeful and optimistic that the ministry will reinstate this or a similar funding program,” said Ms. Gervais. “The meeting we had went very well. It was quick, straight to the point, but very positive. And I have a contact person through the ministry I am working with looking at how to move forward on this project.”
“They were very receptive,” said Councillor Osborne. “And Mr. Jordan said this project fits in with the province’s hopes of keeping people in their home communities. The province is discussing how to get this program funding reinstated. I am confident from our meeting that the funding will be there. They were very receptive.”
