Last week, in my Listen Up opinion piece I wrote about my concern that one of the candidates at the mayoral debate in Huntsville would not commit to supporting the decision of the Provincial Government to build a new hospital in our community.
I wrote about it then, and I repeat my concern now. I do so because of my advocacy and support over many years for a modern acute care hospital in Huntsville that is not subordinate in any way to a hospital in Bracebridge. I wrote about it again last week, for that reason, and for that reason alone.
Since then, there has been a lot of chatter that I had no right to raise this issue as I was doing it simply because I am supporting another candidate for mayor. I think we need to deal with that.
I was well aware in writing about my concern related to mayoral candidate Tim Withey not fully committing to support a new hospital in Huntsville, that it would allow his supporters to defend him, and they certainly did that and we published those comments that met our community guidelines. I knew we would be providing them with that opportunity but believed the issue of addressing potential non-support for the province’s commitment for a new hospital was far more important.
There is a distinct difference between my personal activities and my function as the Publisher of Doppler and a commentator for that publication. I have the same personal right to support and vote for the candidate of my choice as anyone else. For the record, every other individual who works for Doppler has that personal right as well.
However, as the publisher of a local community online newspaper, we also have an obligation to address issues that we believe are of importance to the communities we serve.
So, yes, I am personally supporting and will vote for one of the candidates who is running for mayor of Huntsville. But I have not mentioned that name or promoted or endorsed that individual on Doppler in any manner.
What I have done, however, is address an issue, not raised by me, but by Mr. Withey whose comprehensive comments, in my view, directly challenged the commitment of the Provincial Government to build two new hospitals in Muskoka and threw cold water on it ever coming about.
(If you want to see the entire debate for yourself, including a discussion about the local share of the hospital, click here.)
That, to me, is an important public policy issue, and believe me, while one other candidate during the mayoral debate did briefly say he was opposed to a new hospital here, had any other candidate expressed their reservation, to the same extent that Mr. Withey did, whether I personally supported them or not, I would have raised exactly the same concern.
The debate about hospital care and the subsequent location of medical specialty services in Muskoka has been going on for many years. But that debate has mercifully come to a close. The Muskoka Algonquin Health Care Board (MAHC) has made its decision. The Government of Ontario has made its decision and communities in both North and South Muskoka have supported that decision. As in any debate, there are those who will disagree with the outcome. But to reopen that debate, at this point, in my view, is a mistake that can only be detrimental to acute hospital care in Huntsville.
Last month Dave Uffelmann, Vice Chair of MAHC and Cheryl Harrison, President and CEO of MAHC made a presentation to Huntsville Council related to the steps required to move forward with a new hospital here. It indicated the potential for shovels to be in the ground within the next five years. As some others have indicated, I believe that to be somewhat optimistic, but certainly, something to work toward.
However, I also believe that reopening the whole issue of hospital care in Muskoka will guarantee that those who say new hospital facilities are ten to fifteen years away, will get their wish.
In a comment to my Listen Up article last week, Allen Markle, an acknowledged Tim Withey supporter and a frequent critic of my commentaries, said this. “I agree with Hugh Mackenzie that if Huntsville is renovated or goes up a story, then the new ‘full service’ (hospital) will inevitably be built in Bracebridge.” But then he went on to say, “But in my opinion, such a facility half an hour away will be better than Toronto or Newmarket”. That is where I respectfully part company with Mr. Markle. It will not be better for Huntsville.
The moment Huntsville has a hospital that is subordinate to another hospital facility in Muskoka, it will have a significant and negative effect on our community. That includes doctors, who will not come here, medical specialists who will not come here, and indeed, people who will not move here. Our tourism industry would be affected, our economy would be affected, our ability to attract professionals here would be affected and our vitality as a Muskoka community would be diminished.
That is why the end of the debate about acute hospital care in Muskoka is welcome and that is why the commitment by the Province of Ontario to two new acute care facilities in Muskoka is important. It is also why planning, especially financial planning, for the new facilities must start now and not at some undetermined time in the future.
The Government of Ontario has committed to two new hospitals in Muskoka, and they have begun the implementation process to make it happen.
It is essential, in my view, that voters in this municipal election know precisely where mayoral candidates stand in meeting the necessary commitments when it comes to getting this particular job done in a timely manner, without throwing a spanner in the works.
That is why I have raised this important matter and not because I personally support a particular candidate in this municipal election. I have raised it because I feel deeply about the importance of a modern acute care hospital facility in Huntsville equal to any other in Muskoka. I firmly believe the vast majority of our community supports that as well.
I have fought for this well before this current election and will continue to do so until it is no longer necessary.
And damn the torpedos!
Hugh Mackenzie
Hugh Mackenzie has held elected office as a trustee on the Muskoka Board of Education, a Huntsville councillor, a District councillor, and mayor of Huntsville. He has also served as chairman of the District of Muskoka and as chief of staff to former premier of Ontario, Frank Miller.
Hugh has also served on a number of provincial, federal and local boards, including chair of the Ontario Health Disciplines Board, vice-chair of the Ontario Family Health Network, vice-chair of the Ontario Election Finance Commission, and board member of Roy Thomson Hall, the National Theatre School of Canada, and the Anglican Church of Canada. Locally, he has served as president of the Huntsville Rotary Club, chair of Huntsville District Memorial Hospital, chair of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, president of Huntsville Festival of the Arts, and board member of Community Living Huntsville.
In business, Hugh Mackenzie has a background in radio and newspaper publishing. He was also a founding partner and CEO of Enterprise Canada, a national public affairs and strategic communications firm established in 1986.
Currently, Hugh is president of C3 Digital Media Inc., the parent company of Doppler Online, and he enjoys writing commentary for Huntsville Doppler.
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The sooner the better for a commitment to our Hospital funding. The province wants and need our commitment.
There are other communities waiting in the wind.
The process will take time energy and dollars, upgrades of equipment, building structure to best serve our community. This needs to happen as soon as the Mayor and Council are elected..
Re hospital:
Jean Bagshaw, you have stated the obvious succinctly, clearly, and knowledgeably. Thank you.
I would like to make a contribution to the discussion about the hospital.
We need to be able to take care of our own population because most if not all hospitals are overflowing and under-staffed which means that it is difficult to make a transfer of patients to other hospitals.
We need to prepare for technological advancements that cannot be accommodated by the current hospital building. We need connectivity and transmissibility that allows for such things as a surgery performed by a surgeon in Toronto on a patient who is located in Huntsville. This is not science fiction. It is already possible with the right type of structure and equipment.
We need a building that is designed to safely care for serious infectious outbreaks that if not contained properly can result in large numbers of deaths.
We need a hospital that can accept a sudden influx of casualties as we enter the era of environmental climate disasters. So far in this region, we have been spared the worst effects of this change but I don’t think we can assume that we will not have to deal with it as time passes. Such extremes in weather may make it impossible or slow to move anyone along a highway to another destination.
We need sufficiently modern infra-structure to attract all types of health care professionals to this area. A room, a bed, or a piece of equipment will not benefit us, without knowledgeable personnel to use it.
The current building need not go to waste. It can be used for a different purpose such as a stepping stone from acute care to a return home for patients who require supportive care and rehabilitation to get there.
It will take time and effort, but in order to be ready for future challenges we need to start now, with all hands on deck, to make it happen.
When I ended up in the hospital in 1977 it was relatively new – how can it be worn out already? I would rather see money spent on new equipment and updated diagnostic, etc. machines for the hospital we have. If there was to be a new hospital then it should be in Huntsville – Bracebridge is nearer Orillia. As well, people in the back roads north of Burks Falls and Sundridge can take long enough to get to Huntsville even.
Hugh i love you my friend but something i need to say is i disagree with you, sorry. we need a hospital that functions this one is not at the moment a bigger building is not the solution, not a slight against any of the people working in it. The past 19 months i have needed it’s support the staff have done the best with tools the have had at ones disposale to care for me in my many visits/stays. What we need are beds less offices, more healthcare providers ie. nurses, aids & other specialized staff. A brand new building is not going to solve the problem when you can’t even get enough people to care for those that need care in the existing give us more tools in a remodel renovated facility with the equipment we need and staff!!!! people are dying waiting for treatment & surgeries as we speak and not at the fault of the amazing ground level workers they need tools not just another space to do it in. Sorry that is just my frustrated 2 cents
Whoever becomes Mayor one thing is certain they have their work cut out for them.
Good Luck to all.
Due to the prohibitive cost of diagnostic equipment, government must step in with more meaningful solutions (financing) to equip all hospitals asap. A health care system without proper resources has no way of responding to the health needs within our respective communities. Remember they were still using fax machines before Covid, believe it or not.
I have and elderly customer who has had a stroke and is partially disabled. He is in a lot of pain and he waited for three months for and MRI. He was forced to drive to Midland. Now he has to wait for another six months to see a specialist. This man does not deserve to suffer needlessly at the hands of our underfunded and understaffed health care system. Is it any wonder why so many get addicted to painkillers waiting months and sometimes years for adequate care. Is that the doctors fault or is the system to blame? And yet he and thousands of others do exactly that every day in agony and sadly very little is said. What is the true cost of human suffering?
A new facility would be nice but Bricks and Mortar won’t solve the problems we are currently experiencing. Are region is highly under serviced and understaffed even with two Hospitals. Have we not learned as a community the fundraising efforts put forth by so many astute and caring souls to replace Fairvern?
Forcing the elderly and the disabled to travel outside of Muskoka for diagnostic tests is cruel and inhumane. And in doing so increases are provinces carbon footprint. Now there is a policy the Feds will object to no doubt..
Which option would generate and immediate return on investment and improve the overall impact on our general health?
.
It is unfortunate that a lot of planning and expense has been put forth for a plan that is so ill conceived. I don’t care if it offends people that have planned this expenditure or not. The fact is this is ill-conceived in the face of insurmountable debt of the province and those who supported this have no place in responsible government.
The Hospital in Huntsville and Bracebridge are competent facilities with the staff and resources that exceed Provincial standards of care. We need equipment and perhaps bed funding but not new plants.
Mr. McKenzie, Hernen, Withey, Alcock make no bones about what they support. They have no responsability for the tax dollars they choose to spend on behalf of the taxpayers. They have no concern with the taxes needed to raise these funds nor do they care.
These plans were as ill conceived as the concrete park and main street mess were left with.
I will cancel this submission and look at better equipping our hospitals with equipment and needed staff and doctors, of which we do need.
McKenzie can support who ever he wishes just don’t support these poorly conceived decisions.
Reuben Pyette 4 Mayor
Let me begin by once again stating, as I did at the debate, and again last week at Rotary, If elected I commit to bringing forward a plan for funding the local share to keep the process going, full stop. I have the knowledge and experience to work with the Ministry of Health to navigate through this process. When I was on the Board of the North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN I was part of the review process for other similar large capital applications for Orillia and Collingwood hospitals. Bev MacWilliams and I worked hard on the redevelopment of Fairvern Nursing Home and am proud to see it coming to fruition. No other candidate in this race has the depth of knowledge and experience required to deal with all of the players involved.
I do not support draining our reserves for this as we will be required to build them back up with new taxes. Similarly, I do not support adding a special tax levy for the same reason. We need to work with the various Boards, Councils and departments within the Ministry to determine the actual local share number and how it will be spread across the region. This includes other municipalities in Muskoka, the District and the municipalities outside of Muskoka that have a vested interest in this project. Only then we will know the best way to devise the plan to fund Huntsville’s portion of the local share. It’s this collaborative process that needs to occur to put it together to make the best sense for Huntsville taxpayers. I have the tools to make this happen in a responsible manner.
I spent some years working with many others in the battle to retain our acute care hospital in Huntsville, including serving on the MAHC board. Steve Hernen said the community “asked for and fought for a new hospital”. This is not accurate. The majority of the community wanted to retain their acute care hospital here in Huntsville, they did not expect it to be a new facility. The 2 acute care site option they wanted had several variations, both renovation and new builds. The most expensive option was always build new hospitals.
As I and others have stated, 2 new hospitals would be good, but it comes at a higher capital cost and risk of more delays if the full funding doesn’t materialize. Either way, Huntsville has to be prepared to fight for its hospital and for the needed capital investments that are long overdue.
“Character assassination?” Really!
I found the comment by Anna- Lise Kear to be more a study of the old adage ‘Fool me once. Shame on you. Fool me twice. Shame on me!’ With ‘Once bitten, twice shy’ thrown in. Man! These old adages are timeless, eh!
So many of these assertions indicate that life in Huntsville ceases if we don’t get one of two ‘acute care hospitals’. It is a ways down the road, whatever shakes out and politicians’ promises are not cast in stone.
If not getting this hospital should spell the end of unfettered growth; a halt to the cutting of tracts of timber; the blasting of the rocks we stand on, and the flight of a truck load of developers? Then I don’t imagine I’ll feel it would be that bad a thing.
I have noticed however, that with this expanding tax base, that our individual tax levy is dropping! Or, no! Sorry! Going up 5 or 6 percent? And district is raising payments to councilors by 27%!
It’s all somewhat nonsensical.
I said it at the mayor’s debate a couple of weeks ago and I will say it again now – I am very much in support of a new acute care hospital in Huntsville. I will work with the Provincial government and the local Hospital board to make this a reality in as short a time period as possible.
In a presentation to Huntsville council on September 26, 2022, Cheryl Harrison, President & CEO Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare and Vice-Chair Dave Uffelman said that they anticipate a contract could be awarded for the building of a new hospital in Huntsville in as little as 46 months from now, with a completion date within eight years from now. We can argue all day whether or not this schedule is too aggressive, but at least now we have a path to follow.
https://huntsvilleon.civicweb.net/document/62280/MAHC%20-%20Town%20of%20Huntsville%20Presentation%20FINAL.pdf?handle=3774C10BDEF149CE8694A4F0C4B888B9
Finding and committing the money for the local share is an issue that the local municipal government needs to be dealing with now. This is very important because according to the MAHC presentation “Failure to resolve local share financing by the time we submit the Stage 1.3 Functional Program (approx. 12 months) stops the new hospitals from proceeding”. The amount we are being asked to commit to locally is $74 million, of which, the report goes on to suggest, $10 million should be raised in the hospital catchment area. The District share, the remaining $64 million, will need to be added to the District budget which will result in a tax levy to all Muskoka residences. The local share could be handled in the same manner and added to the Town of Huntsville tax levy however that would result in Huntsville taxpayers paying twice, once at the local level and then also at the District level. I do not support the idea of adding to the local levy to raise the $10 million. I think that is too much of an overall increase for the local taxpayers.
If elected, I will not allow that to happen. Instead, I would immediately establish a working group of all the community leaders in the surrounding area to come up with a fair plan that would see all the communities that will benefit from the new hospital contribute.
I understand that Huntsville, being the largest municipality in the catchment area, will still need to fund the largest potion. To accomplish this without adding stress to the local residents I would suggest that first we designate the $3.6 million held in reserves from the sale of the Waterloo building plus the $300K yearly interest earned on these funds be placed in a Hospital rebuild reserve. I would then look at the revenue (lease payment) of $420K per year from the purchase of the KWH property as a means to make up any additional short fall. Currently this revenue is placed in an environmental reserve for future development of the property, if the pipe manufacture were ever to leave the community. I hope that never happens.
Bottom line is, our community has asked for and fought for a new hospital and the Ford Government has now promised it. Now it’s our turn to step up and commit to the necessary funding.
If elected Mayor of Huntsville, I will, within the first 12 months of taking office, commit to the Provincial government the necessary local share of funding for the building of a new Huntsville Hospital and that commitment will not over burden the taxpayers of Huntsville.
I want to vote for someone who’s background is in business. Someone who understands that money does not just arrive every week in a bank account. We have snow on the ground for 5 months of the year, and we live in Muskoka where driving is a necessity. I want to vote for someone who can balance environmental concerns with the reality of our weather. I would like to vote for someone who will think twice about money wasting projects like Kent Park. Everyone wants affordable housing, but do our politicians encourage innovative, alternate forms of housing? Every single person in this town in some way benefits from tourism for our standard of living. Every politician needs to understand this. Without tourism, we are just another dying small town.
Unfortunately, although Mr. Mackenzie’s column about ” not looking back” and his current statement, have only achieved what he says he wants to avoid: he has cracked open the two/ one hospital debate which was not an election issue on top of mind for the electorate which is more concerned with housing for employees and ever rising housing costs.
When it comes to the hospital, the real question now, is how will we raise the necessary funds for a new Huntsville Hospital. It would be more helpful if Mr Mackenzie would use his skills and contacts to raise the $74 million we will need secured, instead of stirring up unnecessary conflict, doubt and anxiety. Peace be with us all at this Thanksgiving.
My original response to Hugh Mackenzie’s “Let’s not Look Backward” was chopped; ‘though I’m not sure what ‘community standard’ I was in contravention of. Oh well, c’est la vie. And I’ve never I felt that I was a “frequent critic” of his, Hugh Mackenzie’s, comments. Sometimes maybe, but I don’t feel that even if we do disagree, one or the other is the bad person, or necessarily right or wrong.
I do believe we all take the last paragraph of the Sven Miglin comment seriously.
We are all just spit-balling here, holding viewpoints and offering ‘in my opinions’. The Big Guy never left any one of us a stone tablet with a game plan, so we try to figure it as best we can.
Hugh Mackenzie seems to want me to accept that politicians are as good as their word! How has that been working for past generations.
Sven Miglin offers that “governments change and unfortunately promises can too.”
That I can live with. And hope it all turns out okay for Huntsville. I will also restate, should it come down to a single facility, Huntsville will lose. District will see to that. Wonder how all this will look then?
Just an opinion.
Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving.
Ms. Kear. Resorting to character assasination, basicly calling me dishonest, simply becuse we come from far different perspectives should be beneath you. Sadly it is not.
*politics is really unreasonable…..
For the record, I am actively involved in Tim Withey’s campaign to be Mayor.
From 2008 to 2014, I sat on the MAHC (Hospital) Board. For 2 years, I was the Chairman. Tim Withey was the Vice-Chair. I believe now, as I did then, that there must be 2 full service acute care hospitals in Muskoka, one being in Huntsville. I clearly remember Tim as being on the same page.
Tim Withey has always been and remains fully committed to a redevelopment plan that ensures Huntsville has a full-service, acute care hospital. His commitment extends to ensuring that Huntsville has the full range of healthcare services it needs. For example, Tim has been a key player in the redevelopment of Fairvern. A process that began in 1997, went through numerous challenges and only saw the shovels go in the ground this year.
I believe that any prudent redevelopment needs to carefully consider both new and renovated facilities. The Ontario government and taxpayer are both facing significant financial challenges.
The community share was $75 million in 2019 and will likely double before the project is built. To view the taxpayer as a bottomless well is disrespectful and irresponsible.
I was at the Premier’s announcement, when he committed to 2 new hospitals and thanked him for his support. However, governments change and unfortunately promises can too. Huntsville needs a Mayor who understands the challenges hospital redevelopment will face and knows how to work within the system. I believe Tim does.
Finally, last comment from me Mr. Mackenzie;
It is very difficult for me to accept your comment, “I feel deeply about the importance of a modern acute care hospital facility in Huntsville equal to any other in Muskoka.”
Why is this difficult? The Mike Harris hospital bed closures and the Doug Ford lack of planning for nursing shortages in said hospital.
Though I acknowledge your Hospital Board membership as a demonstration of that interest, the promotion of Mike Harris leadership in the Ontario Conservative “Common Sense revolution” does not support your claim in a local, functioning public hospital.
Mr. Mackenzie; the lesson I learned from last week’s commentary is to be much less naive.
You are a mover-shaker-influencer in politics, have done so for most of your life, I imagine.
It is foolish for me or anyone to fail to understand that because of your interests, you will have a finger in some political pie.
Therefore, It is very difficult to imagine your issues of concerns raised as divorced from your political leanings. My concern was that you did not declare your support of another candidate – not that you name that person.
The other insight was to watch your timing in commentary, as related to any particular election.
Having witnessed the summoning of the “old guard” just ahead of the last provincial election, timed after concerns that another party (the Greens) may have proved a challenge to Ontario Conservatives at the Parry Sound-Muskoka level, left me in no doubt of your campaigning savvy.
Pardon my foolish naive imagination. All is very clear. There will be little nuance from your staple viewpoint and your strategy; it will be predictable.