By Rob Hurst
Graydon Smith is a large part of the reason we don’t have a new regional hospital in Muskoka.
You may recall, almost a decade ago, the Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) Board wanted to build a new regional health centre. The two existing hospitals, in Bracebridge and Huntsville, were old and rundown and full of asbestos. The hospital board recommended the new hospital be built in the middle of Muskoka. But it never said precisely where.
Everybody assumed the new Muskoka regional health centre would be built in the Port Sydney area, about halfway between Huntsville and Bracebridge.
The problem: Port Sydney is technically in the Town of Huntsville.
Bracebridge Mayor Graydon Smith criticized the MAHC Board. He launched a campaign to save his local hospital. He declared Bracebridge wouldn’t be a town if it didn’t have a hospital. He suggested all the doctors and nurses would flee Bracebridge. Although his responsibilities are roads, zoning, and the like, Mayor Graydon Smith became an overnight expert on health care.
His attack created a firestorm, like a hot cigarette butt thrown into a dry Muskoka forest. The other mayors and councillors across Muskoka I spoke with at the time were stunned by Graydon Smith’s aggressive approach and Bracebridge-only demands. They were forced into a corner—and most said it was not their expertise. Forget Muskoka unity. Bracebridge and Huntsville were at war.
Then Graydon Smith upped the ante by promising free municipal land for a new hospital—in Bracebridge.
Local councils eventually came together to propose a two-site model, only one of which would have acute-care services and, under intense pressure, the MAHC board shelved the plan for a new regional hospital in Muskoka.
From Graydon Smith, it was parochialism at its best and small-town hubris at its worst. It was a selfish political position that ignored the greater needs of everybody across Muskoka.
So here we are, nearing ten years later, still with two old rundown hospitals. If Graydon Smith had supported a regional health centre then, we would be close to cutting the ribbon today. Instead, the dream of improved health care, and close access to it, is nowhere in sight.
Graydon Smith is now knocking on doors, asking voters to send him to Queen’s Park. He says he is the champion of new hospitals for Bracebridge and Huntsville. His team is using the carefully scripted phrase “two fully equipped acute care hospitals”.
That little phrase is a PR hoax. A “fully equipped hospital” is not the same as a “full-service hospital”.
A “full-service hospital” is a regional health centre that offers a wide range of services like maternity, orthopaedics for broken arms and legs, cardiology for blocked arteries, cancer treatment, and mental health care.
A regional Muskoka health centre would have offered services like that. Graydon Smith’s hospitals will not. Ontario will not build two “full-service hospitals” 40 km apart—nor should they.
One thing Graydon Smith’s hospitals will have: taxi chits, lots of them, to send us where they send us now, up and down Highway 11 to the Royal Vic in Barrie and other regional health centres.
Last month, the premier himself, Doug Ford, announced a grand new plan to redevelop hospitals in both Bracebridge and Huntsville. A $14-million investment, the premier boasted, for planning over several years for two hospitals.
What malarkey. As comparative crumbs go, this wouldn’t even feed a mouse under the chesterfield at the Ford family cottage.
Graydon Smith has, by many accounts, been a good mayor for Bracebridge and a leading voice at the District. One hopes he has the wisdom to realize he has made an enormous mistake about hospital services in Muskoka. It’s a ten-year mistake and counting.
Robert Hurst, the former president of CTV News, has reported on local, provincial, and federal politics for 40 years.
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Hugh Mackenzie says
As a clear anti-Ford commentator, Robert Hurst is entitled to express his viewpoint, just as I as a Progressive Conservative am entitled to my opinion. That’s what makes the world go round.
However Mr. Hurst is wrong on a few issues. . First, Graydon Smith has never been on record for supporting anything but two equal, fully serviced, acute care hospitals in Huntsville. It is true he optionned land for a new hospital in Bracebridge but that was because a new hospital there could not be built on it’s current site. At no time did he say it should be the only hospital site in Muskoka. He was simply protecting hospital services in his own municipality. That was his job as Mayor.
Second, although one of several recommendations that came out of the Algonquin Health Servise Board was a single hospital located between Bracebridge and Huntsville, it was never really an option because infrastructure issues including sewer and wate etc. were overwhelming and it was quickly discarded. Further, ther was never a move by the Province, or to my knowledge the MAHC Board for a Regional hospital in Muskoka like the Regional hospitals in Barrie and Norh Bay. To suggest Graydon Smith was responsible for preventing that was happening is just wrong. It was never in the cards.
Graydon Smith has never taken any position other than that of two equal acute care hospitals in Muskoka. and it is in a large part due to the efforts of him and those of Scott Aitchison, that a committment has been made by the Provincial Government, to make that happen.
Bob Young says
I agree with Rob’s analysis and comments. As a former Mayor of Lake of Bays Township, I was part of the new hospital “circus”. Graydon Smith initially proposed only one solution – Bracebridge. Tragically, it was consistent with his approach to all District issued – Bracebridge first and only, always. Is this going to be his approach at Queen’s Park if he is elected?
I also agree that it makes no sense to have two identical full service hospitals just 49 km apart. When the money folks at Queens Park come to allocating funds, where will Graydon’s support be.
However, not withstanding the above , I will be taking a big risk and supporting Graydon on Thursday, hoping that as he matures into his new role, he will be much more accepting and cognisant of logic and reason not emotion.
Bob Young
Paul Kuebler says
It is concerning that a regular columnist in the Doppler uses that community stage for extensive politically motivated communications.
Clearly the Doppler is biased publication. That is unfortunate at a time when people are distrusting our media outlets more and more.
Hopefully they will reconsider their choices in columnists.
Paul Kuebler,
Port Sydney
Bill Beatty says
Nice opinion piece Mr. Hurst but I prefer to deal in facts as Hugh Mackenzie does not in twisting reality to make case !
Sandy McLennan says
“Clearly the Doppler is biased publication”. I dunno. All kinds of views get air. Long live The Doppler.
PS. Best line of the week, because a smile never hurts: “As comparative crumbs go, this wouldn’t even feed a mouse under the chesterfield at the Ford family cottage.”
Tom Pinckard says
As a former Hospital Chair, Mayor, District Councilor and Board Trustee I have had an unobstructed ring-side seat from which to observe the Hurst circus. Unfortunately, Mr Hurst is not unique. His horizons are the edges of the rut within which he finds himself.
Dave Wilkin says
Muskoka residents wanted to retain their local acute care hospitals. Most understood a single new one would never be built in the Port Sydney area. A new large regional health hub was never an option on the table.
As a former MAHC board member, I fully understood this, and pushed hard for a 2 acute care hospital solution.
Both Graydon and Scott also understood all of this. They did the right thing, they listened to the people too. That’s what good elected representatives do.
Anna-Lise Kear says
Thank you Mr. Bob Young for commenting. The Bracebridge-Huntsville parochial tension has existed since I have came to Huntsville (1972). No, Bracebridge is not the centre of the universe.
DF has provided evidence that the “peter principle” is still operational — that is that some people rise to the level of their incompetence. Whether that be true of Mr. Graydon Smith, I do not know, nor will guess.
How far can his horizon’s expand? Hopefully a bit farther than Doug Ford. I am not holding my breath.
I would suggest caution and a look to the state that Jason Kenney is leaving the Alberta healthcare system and be warned. Wondering if Ontario can attract the Doctors who are leaving? However, a Conservative majority government in Ontario may be discouraging.