Written by: Bruce Kruger, Retired OPP
PowerPoint Presentation – Bruce Kruger
Slide #1
Mr. Renwick and members of the Capital Plan Development Task Force… First I wish to give a quick outline of my background so you understand the context of my concerns.
Slide #2
As a young boy, I went on my first ambulance call at the age of 13 and became an ambulance attendant/driver for seven years until I join the OPP at the age of 21.
I served on the Force as a young constable in Bracebridge, later to return here as detachment commander. I also served as a corporal in Huntsville for five years.
Prior to my retirement from policing, we commenced the Swiss chalet/Harvey’s restaurant in Bracebridge and in 2009, we took over operations at the Huntsville Swiss Chalet/Harvey’s. In other words, I have a good understanding of emergency response requirements plus community needs within both communities.
I know what it’s like to experience the minutes that seemed like hours, while rushing a patient to the emergency room in ambulances and police vehicles.
Yes, our Muskoka EMS program is tremendous and improving with each year, but… I do not believe for a moment, that even with newer technology within these units, that they can replace emergency care within a hospital.
Just imagine, an “Emergency-Run” from Algonquin Park to Bracebridge or a trip from Vankougnet to Huntsville.
Also with the purported idea of dividing the geographical areas of Huntsville and Bracebridge… it is ludicrous to suggest that a new hospital be located in the village of Port Sydney… in order to appease the two larger centres.
Just the infrastructure alone, required for a hospital to be built in Pt. Sydney would be absolutely astronomical and better spent on the construction of new or renovations… to the two existing hospitals.
This does not necessarily mean that those hospitals must remain in their current locations, however. Maybe one… or both would require new lands.
Slide #3
My main concern or reason for presenting tonight, is for our future; to ensure that my family and fellow Muskokans and visitors to our region, receive the best of healthcare.
But like the “Judgment of King Solomon” dividing up the baby, we must also make the same wise decisions about our hospitals and how it affects everyone; in particular, from my perspective, how it affects my own family’s future.
As you can see I have a large family with two thirds living in Bracebridge and one third living in the Huntsville area.
Do I campaign for one town over the other for a hospital, while ignoring the importance of acute care in one location versus both towns.
Slide #4
As shown by the map, the catchment areas by population and roadways are a considerable distance apart.
Due to our population distribution within Muskoka, and with the seasonality adjustments, it would appear, in my judgment, that the continuation of both hospitals is imperative.
The health needs of each community are substantial with both Huntsville and Bracebridge requiring the same acute, chronic and emergency care
Slide #5
As noted in this image of Central Ontario, most of the hospitals in that region have many major and secondary hospitals and in most cases… are all within the same mileage and travel times as Huntsville and Bracebridge.
Slide #6
But sadly, while preparing for this presentation tonight, I approached numerous persons for their input.
I must say that their cynicism pertaining to this process has been considerable.
Slide #7
First and foremost of cynicism, Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare in 2015 announced their recommendation is to build…one hospital only.
Slide #8
Was the cart put before the horse? Most importantly, the question is… “Has the race already been won?” regarding one vs two hospitals.
Are these public hearings simply an appeasement for government to be seen to be interested in public input… without any sincerity?
I, and many others are having difficulty to believe, that MAHC will now change their minds… should your committee decide upon two separate hospitals for the future.
In other words do our voices as citizens, even count at this stage?
Slide #9
Furthermore, there has been suggestions that this healthcare project within Muskoka will be granted an expenditure of $350 million… give or take.
What criteria is this based upon… and without proper and detailed estimates for one or two hospitals?
Again… is this simply an exercise with the relative financial obligations already decided at the various levels of government?
Slide #10
Getting back to public cynicism, citizens are fed up with our governments advising that they are strapped financially for these mega projects and yet…
untold billions of our taxpayer dollars are wasted, whether it be for non-existent nuclear power plants…
Slide #11
Or out-of-sync priorities… to build bicycle lanes on new highways, when we can’t afford the asphalt in our hospital parking lots?
Slide #12
Or building an outdoor ice service at the steps of our Parliament buildings in Ottawa for only three months use, at a cost of over $12 million…
which is located right beside the existing longest ice-skating surface in the world on the Rideau Canal.
All this government spending and yet we must go begging hat-in-hand to citizens, corporations, and service clubs in order for us to have CT scans and other major necessary pieces of equipment within the hospitals.
Please note… this is not an attack on any particular political party but rather… it demonstrates the continued cynicism of Canadians towards our various levels of governments!
Slide #13
I shall not go on, however, I urge each of you to strongly appeal to the Ontario Government and ask that our health care system remain within the Towns of Huntsville and Bracebridge equally serving our citizens.
I truly believe that… whether it’s decided to have one hospital versus two… must remain the sole decision of those of us, who live here… whether as permanent or seasonal residents.
Thank you for this opportunity to speak!