NDP demands province finance entire Cassellholme redevelopment project
The Ontario NDP is calling on the provincial government to fully fund the Cassellholme long-term care home redevelopment project in North Bay.
The province has already promised $65 million to expand the 240-bed facility to add 24 new beds, as well as an Indigenous unit and beds for dementia care.
“New Democrats are fighting for Doug Ford and Vic Fedeli to do the right thing,” said NDP Deputy Leader Sara Singh in a press conference Friday morning.
Local NDP candidate Erika Lougheed joined Singh, who is the NDP MPP for Brampton Centre and long-term care critic, to make their plea to the provincial government.
“The way that it’s set up from the start has created the conditions for this to fail, quite frankly," Lougheed said. "And without having that larger contribution from the government to make it happen, the details just make things more complicated.”
Cassellholme’s nine member municipalities are being asked to guarantee the entire project cost, including the province’s portion. Some municipalities have expressed concerns about the high cost and the effect the guarantee could have on their ability to borrow money for other projects.
“It has really put municipalities between a rock and a hard place, making a nearly impossible decision,” Lougheed said.
The announcement comes after the Cassellholme board of management passed a resolution Thursday saying it plans to levy the member municipalities that have not agreed to the full guarantee. The member municipalities that have not agreed so far are North Bay, Mattawa, East Ferris, and Chisholm.
Singh said the extra pressure on the member municipalities could be avoided if the province financed the entire project.
“They have the power to do that and help us get shovels into the ground," she said.
The NDP is promising it would fund the Cassellholme redevelopment to make sure it happens in 2022, if elected. As part of its plan to overhaul long-term care, the NDP has promised to create 50,000 new spaces, end the waitlist, and make the system fully public and not-for-profit.
In a statement issued to CTV News, Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli said the province will continue to work with the community and Cassellholme to ensure the project’s revitalization goes ahead.
“For years, dating back to my time as mayor of North Bay, Cassellholme has been looking to the province for funding and support,” Fedeli wrote.
“After our government was elected, we secured $65 million in funding for the Cassellholme development. Our government has also helped them access low-interest funding from Infrastructure Ontario – this is identical to a successful approach we have used province-wide.”
The NDP, using data from ‘Home and Community Care Support Services North East’, say 256 people were waiting for a room at Cassellholme as of May.
Singh said long-term care spaces in municipally run homes, such as Cassellholme, are highly sought after so people can stay in their communities close to their loved ones.
“Doug Ford needs to stop making people jump through hoops and he needs to fund this redevelopment project and get it done for the community of Nipissing,” she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.
Here's how much more Canadian landlords are asking for now, according to a just-released report
A new report says the average asking rent for a home in Canada in April was up 9.3 per cent compared with a year ago, while a slight month-over-month increase was also recorded for the first time since January.
Rare severe solar storm Friday could bring spectacular aurora light show across Canada
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
What is basic income, and how would it impact me?
Parliamentarians are considering a pair of bills aiming to lift people out of poverty through a basic income program, but some fear these types of systems could result in more taxes for Canadians who are already financially struggling.
Canada abstains from Palestinian UN membership vote but supports two-state solution
Canada was one of 25 countries that abstained from a United Nations vote on Palestinian membership that passed with overwhelming support on Friday.
More than half the Canadians once detained in Syrian camps for suspected ISIS family members have returned home
A total of 29 Canadians have been freed from detention camps in northeast Syria and brought back to Canada since human rights advocates began lobbying for their release years ago.
'I may have some nightmares:' Man survives being bitten by 2 sharks in Bahamas
A man who was bitten by two sharks in the Bahamas said Thursday he's 'thankful that I'm here' while sharing his story of survival.
Out-of-control wildfire burning near Fort McMurray
As of 9 a.m. on Friday, the wildfire burning 28 kilometres southwest of the northeastern Alberta city was 25 hectares in size.
Mexico's president accuses press and volunteer searchers for missing people of 'necrophilia'
The administration of Mexico's president has accused the press and volunteer searchers who look for the bodies of missing people of 'necrophilia,' comments that drew criticism this week.