Ontario government ignores Macassa Lodge funding needs, says Hamilton Mountain Coun. Tom Jackson
Ontario may be willing to kick in a few extra dollars to the $27.8-million Macassa Lodge expansion project.
Long-Term Care Minister Paul Calandra said during a Feb. 7 news conference outside Hamilton City Hall that the province may provide the municipality with additional funding to cover unexpected costs associated with the construction.
We are taking a look at all options," said Calandra. Inflation and supply chain issues are causing challenges in some areas in Ontario."
But Calandra, who was only recently appointed as the new LTC minister, did not address increasing the funding to upgrade 44 existing beds in the project that councillors have been seeking.
The announcement in long-term-care funding is part of the government's $6.4-billion investment to construct 30,000 net new long-term-care beds by 2028, along with 28,000 upgraded beds across the province.
The province, as part of its 747 new and upgraded bed funding announced for Hamilton, will also pay 20 per cent of the cost of the new 20 new beds for Macassa Lodge. It has resisted efforts from councillors to help fund the redevelopment of the 44 existing beds.
Councillors agreed last year to spend $27.8 million to expand Macassa Lodge, but the city is borrowing $19.2 million of the project's cost, which will have to be repaid over 25 years.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Long-Term Care, Macey Aramburo, had stated in an emailed response that no formal request" has been received from Hamilton for additional funding.
Mountain Coun. Tom Jackson, who represents the area where the facility is located, said although he is grateful" for the cost-sharing funds for the 20 new beds the province is providing, I am very disappointed to hear a non-announcement addressing city council's unanimous motion and plea for the same cost-sharing funding arrangements for the 44 beds."
I am surprised Minister Calandra seemed to be unaware of the 44 beds," said Jackson.
He is looking to Flamborough-Glanbrook Progressive Conservative MPP Donna Skelly, who was at the Feb. 7 announcement to continue to press for this cost-sharing funding" for the 44 beds.
Surely there is additional dollars for our Macassa Lodge long overdue project for the entire west wing," said Jackson.
The Macassa Lodge project includes demolishing the existing wing once the new B-wing is constructed. The B-wing will have an additional 20 beds that will add to the current 44 beds.
The D-wing was built in 1954 and renovated in 1988. There are two residents per room separated by curtains who share washrooms.
About half the rooms in the 290-bed lodge are single occupancy.
The ministry is accepting written submissions from the public on the redevelopment of the lodge. The public can send their comments through email at LTCHomes.Licensing@ontario.ca. The deadline to submit a response is Feb. 10.
Ontario is providing nearly $5.6 million for the 20 beds. The city, though, is spending $335,000 on development costs for the land; $22.3 million on construction costs; $4 million for architecture, engineering, legal and project management services; and more than $800,000 in other costs.
Jackson has said the province provided 80 per cent of the funding for the reconstruction of the city-operated Wentworth Lodge. And in the mid-80s when Macassa Lodge was upgraded, the province paid two-thirds of the $11 million cost.