Prescott’s Committee of the Whole has voted on Brockville General Hospital’s funding request.
Until the Town of Prescott hears a new presentation, with a new number, they will not be discussing funding for Brockville General Hospital further. There four options discussed were; giving the full amount by 2020, giving another amount to be decided upon by 2020, providing a different amount over a period longer than three years and not providing any funding support at all. They voted on the smaller amount, longer time option but with one member missing the vote ended in a tie, which was not enough to pass the motion.
Councillor Ray Young called BGH “our” hospital and said he hoped they could find a way to support the project. Young would prefer to give less than the approximately $950,000 requested, over a greater length of time. Councillor Leanne Burton voiced a similar perspective, saying with everything the town is already facing she doesn’t feel comfortable with a ten year plan but would support the project if they could find suitable conditions.
Mayor Brett Todd pointed out that they have been contacted by area hospitals with similar requests in the past and if they help one then others may expect the same. Todd added he agrees with Young’s perspective if Brockville is designated as the town’s hospital and noted other municipalities have backed the idea.
Councillor Teresa Jansman agreed BGH is Prescott’s hospital but made it clear she did not understand why a provincially mandated project was having funding collected in such a manner. Jansman said it has the potential to become “a very slippery slope” where municipalities are asked to subsidize big projects. She says she doesn’t believe it should fall on the municipalities because they can barely support their current expectations.
During the discussion Treasurer Mathew Armstrong did point out that the town currently supports Lanark Leeds Grenville Public Health and St. Lawrence Lodge, a combined expense of over 230,000 annually.
