Great news came from Muskoka Algonquin Health Care (MAHC) this past week when they announced a revised plan for the two hospital sites in Muskoka. The plan added ten beds to the Bracebridge site, for a total of 46 beds. It has received approval from most stakeholders in Muskoka and East Parry Sound, including the mayors of the three towns in Muskoka.
In her statement, Huntsville Mayor Nancy Alcock said, “It is important to note that there will be no change to the model for the Huntsville site with this proposed submission.” That, of course, is good news.
Mayor Alcock is correct that the ten beds that were most recently added to the Bracebridge site did not affect Huntsville’s current model. However, one should not infer from this that Huntsville failed to contribute to finding a solution for hospital care in Muskoka that enabled consensus among stakeholders.
Originally, the MAHC proposal allocated 139 beds to the Huntsville site for the services it was being asked to provide. As more beds were allocated to the Bracebridge site, initially from 14 to 36, the number of beds allocated to Huntsville was reduced to 121.
The one question that remains unanswered, at least to me, is whether, when these 18 beds were moved from Huntsville to the Bracebridge site, any hospital services that supported them moved with them. If so, what were they?
While I believe people are entitled to clarity on that question, it is encouraging that we have reached a general consensus on a unique future-looking plan for superior hospital care in Muskoka. Of course, there is a long way to go and a number of risks along that path, but general agreement among the stakeholders in Muskoka and East Parry Sound is a huge step forward.
Of course, this did not happen overnight, and a number of people, including the three Towns and MAHC, deserve credit for finally reaching a made-in-Muskoka consensus. But the glue that held all of this together, the one person who worked behind the scenes, who proposed solutions, kept animosity to a minimum, and brought stakeholders together for an agreement that was acceptable to all parties, was our MPP Graydon Smith. There can be no question about that.
It is not surprising that Matt Richter, who will be the Green Party candidate in this riding when the provincial election is called, did not recognize Graydon Smith for his monumental efforts to find a viable solution for hospital care in Muskoka and East Parry Sound. That, I suppose, is politics.
But what Mr. Richter does say in his statement about the delivery of hospital care in Muskoka and East Parry Sound is nothing short of gross disinformation on a level that Donald Trump would be proud of.
Matt Richter said, “For too long our communities have been pitted against each other as they try to secure health care resources from a government that doesn’t care about them.” Complete nonsense.
For one thing, Premier Ford and Graydon Smith had absolutely nothing to do with pitting communities in Muskoka against each other. Huntsville and Bracebridge have been able to do that all by themselves for decades, without any outside help. A competitive spirit between neighbouring municipalities is quite natural. One Muskoka old-timer told me that it all probably started years ago, over hockey, and he is probably right.
Also, like Doug Ford or hate him (and I know I will hear from those in the latter category), when it comes to hospital care in Muskoka, he cannot be accused of not caring. His government has committed to over a billion dollars for a two-site hospital here. In spite of disagreement inside Muskoka and East Parry Sound up until now about what this should actually look like, he continues to keep this commitment and stand by Parry Sound-Muskoka.
There is nothing to be gained by placing blame, especially for political reasons, on individuals or organizations, including MAHC, for all of the deliberations, opposition, opinions, and compromises that crop up during an exercise like the one that was required to determine the best level of hospital care in Muskoka and East Parry Sound. It is important to remember that while MAHC has had to work within provincial guidelines, they are local volunteers who developed and consulted on these plans and not bureaucrats from Toronto. We owe them our thanks.
The bottom line is that we can now move forward with the next steps to make these new hospital sites in Muskoka a reality. There is still much to do. For one thing, it is important that construction on the two sites, when it finally begins, does not mean building these structures one at a time, leaving the distinct possibility, especially if there is a change in government, that the other one never gets built.
That is why it is important for Graydon Smith to stick around to make sure the job actually gets done. Someone sitting in the Opposition cannot do that.
It is just the reality of politics.
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 and South Muskoka Doppler.
Don’t miss out on Doppler!
Sign up here to receive our email digest with links to our most recent stories.
Local news in your inbox so you don’t miss anything!
Click here to support local news
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Mr Mackenzie, South Muskoka will be suffering a net loss of beds! What part of that did you miss? South Muskoka is planned to go from 67 beds to 46. The big move of beds are for ALC and at risk of ALC patients. How does that improve health care for anyone? Logic would say that bed numbers should be allocated by population as should cost per municipality. Almaguin pays 9.5 million, Gravenhurst pay 1 million. Also the cost that MAHC predicts seem to be far more expensive than other places in Ontario that are building new hospitals. As far as building new hospitals , I think that makes no sense at all. Is the Huntsville hospital 50 years old? I also want Graydon to be around to see how this all plays out. What I don’t understand is how MAHC (which is a self selected, not elected board) can ignore my elected rep and move ahead.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
The Bracebridge site continues to look more and more like Muskoka’s regional hospital and Huntsville’s site continues to look more and more like a rehab/long term care facility with an attached ER.
I’m not sure why MAHC continues to play this sleight of hand game. Be honest, save some money and build one fully equipped hospital, half way between Orillia and North Bay.
I await the haters.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Graydon Smith has been and continues to be a very strong and competent advocate for the people of Parry Sound Muskoka. He and Scott Aitchison showed this same leadership when they were both mayors, working together and presenting a united front to a Kathleen Wynne government that was counting on them to be divided. The Green Party of Ontario is too small and too amateur to offer anything of value to the people of this province. Parry Sound Muskoka will continue to prosper with a leader like Minister Smith serving it.
Bill Beatty says
As the saying goes ; ” You can please some of the people none of the time ” Shovels please !
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Graydon Smith is the epitome of quiet, rock solid competence and capability. Kudos to him for the work he’s put in fixing MAHC’s mess.
With respect to Mr. Richter and the Greens, shame on them for cynically using this hospital situation for partisan political gain.
Every four years, Richter emerges from obscurity to self-proclaim himself a “community champion” and lecture us on climate change. Now, he’s deliberately sowing dissension, trying to tear Muskoka apart to satisfy his own political ambition.
The people of Muskoka see through these repugnant tactics.
Good article, Hugh. Graydon got it done and it’s time to move forward.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
It does not take much effort to find that Ontario governments have neglected to fund solutions for rural and northern health care services for some time with the result that emergency rooms and hospitals have been closed for services, especially a very real problem now. The current government appears to have other priorities- building more highways squashing endangered and at risk species, and reducing good farmland in favour of promoting unaffordable housing sprawl. Now alcoholic beverages at our convenience with a significant cost for an early end to a Beer Store contract. Not seeing a major expansion of availability of mental health and addiction treatment to match. And there is the Premier’s fantasy of ending GTA gridlock with a tunnel… that we will all pay for.
I am grateful that a significant sum is promised to Muskoka for hospital redevelopment, but I note that all local shares from communities will need to be increased to support the buildings as planned that our MPP Hon. Graydon Smith supports- not an increase in the Conservative Government’s promised share. Was it not possible for him as a cabinet minister to advocate for an increase in provincial money that is projected to be needed? Is this a demonstration of how much our provincial Conservative government cares about our adequate healthcare ? Of course, Muskoka communities have been fighting, locked in a tight funding box. I have no doubt that Hon. Graydon Smith cares, but he seems to be placed on mute by higher powers. Nevertheless, Mr. Mackenzie is reminding us that our gratitude should buy our continued votes for a Conservative representative for the next decade or so. I am not sure that democracy is meant to be as Mr. Mackenzie’s grungy reality show called “Its only Politics.”
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Matt Richter did not blame anyone in his statement: …”For too long our communities have been pitted against each other….” I read into that first part of his sentence exactly what Hugh MacKenzie says below, the two communities have done that by themselves.
Nowhere does Matt mention Doug Ford or Mayor Smith or that they are to blame for the conflict about the two hospitals. So to read “complete nonsense” into that is incorrect.
The second part of Matt’s statement is standard political rhetoric, an ongoing, general characterization of how many people feel about the Ford government and how it favours wealthy developers over, say, for examples, children with autism, paying nurses and psws a deserved wage, or environmental protection or any number of things that would improve quality of life for the ‘average citizen.’
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Debi Davis states one fully equipped hospital between Oriilia and North Bay should be built. Also she is waiting for the haters. Actually that suggestion is the best joke I have heard all year.
Allen Markle says
Hugh Mackenzie: We hear that this government is committed to spend (insert a dollar value: allow for cost over-runs) to bring us the health care we need. Hopefully! But I still wonder. And after all this time and fussing, not a tree has died, a rock’s been blasted, nor a worm unhoused. Rest assured though that there has been considerable expenditure made for people to be writing stuff down and erasing it. Additions and mods could be underway by now but the PC cry was “two new full service hospitals” which is not what we need ‘nor what we’re getting.
I do disagree with the Green comment that the government hasn’t cared about us. Governments have simply taken us for granted. The thinking I believe, was Muskoka/Parry Sound is Conservative. Why make an effort when we have their vote anyway. But the Green Party chased the PCs hard last election and maybe we owe them as much gratitude for their effort as the present government. Maybe the largess being visited on Muskoka/Parry Sound is just a pre-emptive defense move? ‘See what we can do for you? Now don’t get out of line again!’
There is the comment that the Green Party is too “small and amateur.” Small for sure. But how long has it been since there has been any such thing as a ‘professional’ government? Ever? Bill Davis? Jean Chretien? Even they got a bit erratic by times. And would ‘professional government’ be a contradiction of terms? An oxymoron perhaps? Or just a bad adjective?
And the reality of politics “don’t impress me much.” In the words of a true professional.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Well said, Hugh. I’ve been paying close attention and far as I can tell the medical communities of north and south, along with the mayors, are now fully on board. It’s time to get this going. Thank you to MPP Smith for your efforts.
The harsh reality here is that it’s difficult for some people to accept that having an MPP in government and in cabinet is powerful and effective. This is true across Canada and in every instance, regardless of political stripe.
The notion that an MPP from a far-left, fringe party would/will somehow be able to extract more money, like the $50M for the additional ten beds (AND the $1B initial investment), that MPP Smith has gotten, is quite frankly, ridiculous. A PC, Liberal or NDP government would all tell a Green MPP to take a hike. That’s the way it goes.
If you think having a Green MPP will be good for Muskoka, then I have a bridge to sell you.
With respect to Mr. Richter’s statement. Yikes. If you want to play in the big leagues, you need to do a better job than that. I suspect his transparent attempt to spin this into something politically positive for himself will come back to bite.
Let’s build these hospitals and get on with it.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Although one all service hospital between Barrie and North Bay is the best idea stop nattering and accept the plan and get on with it. All of us in Muskoka have chosen to live here knowing we will have to drive to one hospital or the other.
If a decision is not made soon and with years of building ahead most of us discussing this will have passed on! I would say LOL but I don’t see any humour in this.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Mr. Mackenzie, my views on Ford’s public healthcare policies are well known. We have just learned of the waste of 4.3 million dollars in the court costs for having Bill 154 tossed out (remember, this was the Bill that capped wages for nurses and others). Wasteful, period.
Having started nursing in Huntsville in 1972, I can agree with Matt Richter’s statement as lived experience. More recently, the same is true for the contention over 2 site versus 1 site and the services, bed allocations.
“Matt Richter said, ‘For too long our communities have been pitted against each other as they try to secure health care resources from a government that doesn’t care about them.’ No, Mr. Mackenzie, that Was Not “complete nonsense”. The rivalry was/is real. Thank you, Mr. Richter for stating a reality.
PLEASE, recall the last Provincial election, when local, well-known Tory movers and shakers came out in the Doppler, warning that if a Conservative MPP was not elected that hopes of hospital improvements would not be forthcoming. It was blackmail of the voters, with a polished glove. (did the local Conservatives fear a possible Green victory?)
Ford has continued to not collect revenues (e.g. Hwy 407, licenses), talked of changing the courts to make them friendlier to Conservative policy, failed to adequately support public healthcare in human resource retention and recruitment. He has spent taxpayer money getting out of beer distribution contracts so we can enjoy the purchase in corner convenience stores = “buck-a-beer” campaign promises.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Mr Mackenzie, when I checked out the meet the board section of MAHC’s website, I couldn’t identify where all the members live. The write ups are vague for the most part as far as residency. All the members have impressive resumes. But do they all live in Parrysound or Muskoka ? It is hard to tell. If they are cottagers, then in my mind they are not local! One member states “she enjoys spending her time between her cottage in Gravenhurst and and her home”. It has been my experience that people move to Muskoka and Almaguin and then want everything changed to suit what they are used to. SO CAN THE MAHC BOARD IDENTIFY WHERE THE MEMBERS LIVE? If all the members don’t live in Parrysound or Muskoka, then it isn’t a decision made locally. It’s like when you pointed out that our district chairman isn’t local. (By my definition of local.}