Premier makes commitment to build long-term care beds in Sioux Lookout

Tim Brody - Editor

Following his history making speech in the Ontario Legislature on May 28, speaking in Anishininiimowin (Oji-Cree), Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa was given lead question for Question Period, and he was determined to make it impactful.
Mamakwa stated, “Elder care and long-term care in Sioux Lookout and Kiiwetinoong is not meeting the needs of our communities. The lack of new long-term care beds in Sioux Lookout has led to the emergency department and hospital beds being used by those who would otherwise be in the long-term care. Will Ontario ensure the Elders of Kiiwetinoong have access to the care and resources they need and that there will be funding provided to build them?” 
Minister of Long-Term Care Stan Cho responded to Mamakwa’s question stating, “Some things are bigger than politics and I believe that’s one of those moments this morning. Megwich to the honourable member for that question. Speaker, what’s bigger than politics, also is making sure that we take care of those that took care of us. I’m also honoured to see that the member’s mother is here, Happy Birthday to her. I can see how important his mother is to the member and speaker, certainly no different in my life. My mother’s a senior now, we have to take care of them. We understand there are unique challenges when it comes to rural northern areas, particularly when it comes to Indigenous communities. That’s why our government has specific programs catered towards Indigenous communities.”
Following another question to the Minister, Mamakwa was given the opportunity to state his third and last question, stating, “Will the government finally come through on their 2018 promise to create 76 more long-term care beds in Sioux Lookout?”
Premier Doug Ford responded, “I had you in my office yesterday, told you how proud I am of you, how you’re blazing a new trail, and no one’s ever done this, what you’re doing today. I just want to tell you how proud I am of you, how proud everyone here in the legislature is of you, how proud everyone in the First Nations, and I appreciate your passion.
“I went up to Sioux Lookout and you remember I went up there, and I committed that I’m going to build that long-term care home. I’m committing today, in the public, we will be building those beds, we’ll be building a home for Sioux Lookout.”
Ford and Mamakwa then crossed the floor and shook hands.  
Asked about the question he picked on the historic day, Mamakwa said, “I think I wanted, because of my mom being there, I know at some point in time in the near future, that’s one of the things that she will need. I knew elders were going to be there. I knew elders from across the region would be there. I know the leaders up north, through Sioux Lookout First Nations Health Authority and also the letter writing campaign that was done by the seniors in Sioux Lookout, I know Meno Ya Win hospital, I know they’ve been pressing the government to start investing in that, the mayor (Doug Lawrance) as well, I know they’ve been pushing for that for a long time, so I think it just seemed to be right issue. I didn’t want a question just to be for show. I wanted it to be a real question, a real issue that is much needed in the Sioux Lookout area.”
In a May 28 media release, SLMHC shared, “We are continuing to have discussions with Ontario Health Northwest, and the Ministries, to stress the importance of providing the additional Long-Term Care beds that were allocated since 2018. Having a large number of Alternate Level of Care (ALC) patients in our hospital has impacted our ability to get acute care patients out of our Emergency Department and into a bed. The lack of beds has also impacted our ability to repatriate our patients back from other facilities in a timely manner, such as Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre,” SLMHC President and Chief Executive Officer Dean Osmond said.
SLMHC shared that currently there are 21 licensed beds at the William A. George Extended Care Facility. In 2018, the provincial government allocated an additional 76 long-term care beds. The average wait for a long-term care bed at the William A. George Extended Care Facility is approximately 
seven years.
Commenting on the Premier’s commitment Osmond shared, “The comment made to our MPP Sol Mamakwa by Premier Doug Ford in regards to building long term care beds in Sioux Lookout, is long overdue. 
“We appreciate all of Sol’s work and advocacy on this project.
“As of yet we have not had any correspondence with the Ministry of Long Term Care in this regard.
“We are looking forward to hearing from the Ministry and planning next steps.”
Sioux Lookout Mayor Doug Lawrance added, “The commitment from Premier Ford to Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa for the desperately needed long-term care beds creates a unique opportunity for our region. The addition of a long-term care wing on the Meno Ya Win Health Centre was allowed for in the hospital planning and design almost twenty years ago.  This addition will free up the existing Bill George Extended Care facility which could be re-purposed into a much-needed residential treatment facility.  That in turn would free up the old high school, which is currently being multi-purposed as a space for shelter, safe sobering beds, treatment, and education.  The old high school could be used for its’ intended purpose – education and training. A new, smaller, emergency shelter would complete the realization of this opportunity. The positive impact on freeing up 20 or so acute care beds currently being used as long-term-care beds in the Meno Ya Win Health Centre will benefit the Sioux Lookout hospital and the Thunder Bay Regional Hospital.  All in all, if real action follows this commitment, it is very positive for the people of the region. Thank you to MPP Sol Mamakwa for speaking up, in his language, on this issue.”