MRI funding a county issue, warns Rawson of ‘a slippery slope’
By: Derek Howard,
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Source: MidlandToday.ca
Aug 26, 2024 – It has been often said that there is only one taxpayer when considering where and how municipal tax dollars go, and funding the upcoming MRI machine at Georgian Bay General Hospital prompted such a discussion at the recent Penetanguishene committee of the whole meeting.
In July, ground was broken at Georgian Bay General Hospital in anticipation for an expansion to its facility that would house a new magnetic resonance imaging unit, anticipated to open in early 2025.
Coun. Dan La Rose provided a Simcoe County council update to Penetanguishene committee of the whole recently, whereupon he informed members about a $1.2 million allocation provided by the county toward the MRI. “We got a tour of what was going on and they said they would be open for business in February, taking the first patient,” said La Rose. “The only bad part about it was they said they had 4,000 people registered.”
A finance and corporate services report later in the meeting addressed funding options for the MRI addition, with a recommendation that Penetanguishene council do nothing; the rationale being that the County of Simcoe Hospital Alliance provided funding to hospitals through a regional approach more beneficial than through upper or lower tier funding.
Coun. Suzanne Marchand raised issue with the report recommendation to do nothing, stating she would support an option to provide a $25,000 pledge to the MRI machine, and asking staff if they had explored neighbouring municipalities having put lower-tier contributions to the project. “To not do anything is really a hard one to swallow,” said Marchand, relating an anecdote of a family member relying on the hospital during her time as a board member. “It really takes a village and community to have these kinds of services, and this is not a light and small project.”
Director of finance/treasurer Carrie Robillard explained staff had not looked into funding by other municipalities because there were “no parameters within the town policies for me to recommend anything other than that (the staff recommendation); really it is definitely a council decision.”
Mayor Doug Rawson cautioned that having Penetanguishene residents fund the project through municipal tax dollars could be “a slippery slope”, as Simcoe County was in charge of funding allocation. “I think it’s important that we let them lead that charge,” said Rawson. “My other concern here is… about encroachment of responsibility,” he added before offering insight on how the town would be delegating at the 2024 Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference regarding policing costs for the Central North Correctional Centre, and its cost put upon the Penetanguishene taxpayer. “We’re probably going to be in about our seventh delegation asking for the province to make us whole for our policing costs at the superjail,” Rawson stated. “I would argue, and we all would agree, that’s not our responsibility paying – the town residents shouldn’t be paying for policing costs at the jail. “We’ve been paying north of a million dollars over the past few years for that institution that’s not our responsibility; I don’t know why we’re allowing them to get away with that,” Rawson said.
Also supporting the staff option to do nothing was Coun. Bill Waters with reasons coming from seeing a nearby soup kitchen visited by “hundreds of people going in there every Tuesday and Thursday”. “We have a lot of people in this town that are struggling financially, and I don’t think it’s fair that we ask them to mandatorily have to give up money for an MRI,” said Waters, who added that private donations would be better suited to pay for the project.
“We have people in this town that are earning upwards $100,000 to $400,000; they can afford to give it,” Waters said. “We shouldn’t be asking the guy that’s making $20,000 a year to have to pony up on his tax bill for it.”
Concluding the remarks was Coun. George Vadeboncoeur, providing history that mechanisms were put into place years ago for the county levy to allocate funds rather than having regional health facilities make multiple municipal requests for capital contributions.
With that, the committee of the whole approved the staff recommendation to let MRI funding be handled through the upper tier County of Simcoe Hospital Alliance. The GBGH MRI funding options report can be located on the agenda page of the Town of Penetanguishene website.
The Town of Penetanguishene is excited to announce the introduction of the All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) and Off-Road Vehicles (ORVs) Pilot Program starting September 1, 2024, until September 30, 2025.
Submitted by Town of Penetanguishene
Aug. 28, 2024 – This Pilot Program is a community idea that Council approved based on results from several public surveys and consultations which highlighted a strong support from our local residents.
“This initiative is another way that we are showing our community that we are following our strategic plan specifically by continuing to think regionally and work with neighbouring communities to provide shared active lifestyles and tourism opportunities,” said Mayor Rawson. “The consultations and surveys were just one way we heard from the public that they were in support of this project, and we are thrilled to have it launch this year.”
All ATV and ORV users are responsible for reading and understanding the approved bylaw to ensure they are familiar with the rules and regulations. A few key points have been outlined below.
- This Pilot Program will be effective from September 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025.
- All licensed ATVs and ORVs are allowed on all municipal roads only in the Town of Penetanguishene.
- Users are required to follow the Highway Traffic Act and the Off-Road Vehicles Act and related Regulations that will be enforced by the OPP. Users are reminded that speed regulations are reduced for ATV and ORV operators
- ATVs and ORVs are not permitted in any Town or County parks and/or trails.
ATVs and ORVs are a popular way to explore the great outdoors, but they also come with inherent risks. To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience, we encourage everyone to follow these
- Wear Proper Gear: Always wear a DOT-approved helmet, along with goggles, gloves, long sleeves, and sturdy footwear. Proper gear can significantly reduce the risk of injury in the event of an accident.
- Know Your Vehicle: Familiarize yourself with your ATVs and ORVs controls and handling characteristics. Read the manufacturer’s manual and understand how to operate your vehicle safely.
- Ride Sober: Never operate an ATV or ORV under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Impairment dramatically increases the risk of accidents and injuries.
By prioritizing safety and responsible riding practices, we can enjoy the thrill of adventures while minimizing the risk of accidents. Let’s make this Pilot Program safe and fun for everyone, understanding that if we are not good stewards the Pilot Program will risk not being permanent.