Armour’s Mayor Rod Ward believes there has been a “troubling” lack of context when discussing Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare’s (MAHC) hospital redevelopment project.
He made a post on his Facebook page expressing support for the “Made-in-Muskoka healthcare system” proposal.
“As chair of the Almaguin Highlands Health Council, recent news events regarding the MAHC redevelopment are leading to a sense of dismay and disappointment following a period of optimism for our group representing 10 municipalities in Almaguin,” writes Ward. “Each day seems to bring with it a fresh set of negativity which has, frankly, become increasingly difficult to counter. The swim upstream continues, and it is tiresome for all involved.”
Almaguin Highlands, which includes the Township of Armour, collectively agreed to contribute $9.5 million to MAHC’s $225 million local share fund.
“Our quiet commitment continues, even though this has essentially turned into a battle of the beds between neighbouring communities to our south,” adds Ward.
He points out how “virtually no one” in Almaguin Highlands is within a 30-minute drive of the hospitals in Bracebridge and Huntsville but continue to support MAHC “despite the fact that neither hospital build really brings any direct benefit to our own communities.”
“There is so much incredible, positive work going on in the healthcare arenas and in our communities that relies on the coordination and collaboration of countless stakeholders,” continues Ward. “This work falls apart with partisan battles, community borders and, dare I say, politics.”
Ward points out how the redevelopment project is supposed to support communities from Severn Bridge to Sundridge, not just residents in Bracebridge and Huntsville.
“In the Almaguin Highlands, we’re not looking back at past examples of lost services or at imbalances in the provision of healthcare in our own region,” finishes Ward. “We’re not counting beds. We see this as a huge opportunity to re-imagine what healthcare looks like for the entire region. From Severn Bridge to Sundridge and everywhere in between.”
The statement from Ward comes as the Town of Bracebridge is rethinking its $10 million local share commitment and a few weeks after MAHC spoke with Huntsville council where they expressed their support of the current proposal.
