Mayors in eastern Ontario are voicing concerns over a proposal that could see three long-term care homes closed and consolidated into a single new facility in Cornwall, Ont. The Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care says it is reviewing the plan, which was put forward for Southbridge Care Homes.
The homes at risk are Pinecrest, a 60-bed facility in Plantagenet; the Palace, a 70-bed home in Alexandria; and Heartwood, a 118-bed home in Cornwall. Under the proposal, these would be replaced by a new 320-bed facility located across from an existing Southbridge home at 800 Nick Kaneb Dr. in Cornwall — 72 more beds than the three current homes combined.
North Glengarry Mayor Jamie MacDonald said in a video posted to Facebook that residents of the Palace have deep ties to the community, having worked there, raised families and supported local businesses. He said relocating their care to Cornwall carries consequences beyond bed counts, and also raised questions about what would happen to staff unable to relocate.
Union Says It Learned of Plan Through Media
The United Steelworkers union, which represents workers at the Palace and Pinecrest, said it has limited information about the potential consolidation. Richard Leblanc, the union’s eastern Ontario area coordinator, told Radio-Canada that the employer has indicated the closures are not yet definite and that the Cornwall facility could take up to five years to open.
In a separate English statement to CBC News, the union said it was shocked to learn of the potential closures through media reports and raised concerns about the ability of the current homes to retain existing staff and recruit new workers.
French-Language Service Requirements Could Complicate Plan
France Gélinas, the provincial NDP’s critic for health, long-term care and francophone affairs, said the Pinecrest beds in Plantagenet may be protected because the home has been designated under the French Language Services Act, requiring it to offer services in French around the clock. She said this designation could complicate any effort to relocate those beds.
Conservative MPP Stéphane Sarrazin, who represents Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, noted that Ontario’s Long-Term Care Minister, Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, is also responsible for francophone affairs, and said he expects any home with French-language service designation would have to comply with that regulation.
In a statement, Kusendova-Bashta’s office said that when a home undergoes redevelopment or relocation, the ministry works with operators to support continuity of care, and that homes with French-language obligations are expected to maintain those services. The office added that placement co-ordinators are available to assist families in such situations.
Mayor Raises Concern Over Isolation of Residents
Yves Laviolette, mayor of the Township of Alfred and Plantagenet, said moving Pinecrest residents to Cornwall could isolate them from family, particularly in winter, since the current proximity allows for frequent visits that would be harder to maintain with a longer commute.
Southbridge did not respond to a request for comment from Radio-Canada before publication. The ministry said it is continuing to accept public feedback on the proposal, with a submission deadline of Oct. 16.
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