HEALTH MINISTER REJECTS RUNCIMAN PROPOSAL
BROCKVILLE – A proposal by Leeds-Grenville MPP and Leader of the Opposition, Bob Runciman that would bring jobs to the area and save the province approximately $100 million has been rejected by Ontario’s Liberal government.
Last November Runciman asked the Minister of Health to consider utilizing the new forensic unit at the Brockville Psychiatric Hospital as a maximum security facility and maintain the current on-site medium security unit in its present role.
“The province plans to close down and re-build its maximum secure facility in Penetanguishene” said Runciman. “This option would save the government approximately $100 million in capital construction costs and build on the already established mental health treatment facilities at the Brockville site.”
Actually, in 1987 then Liberal Minister of Health Murray Elston announced the closure of the Oak Ridge facility in Penetang. Eighteen years later the facility is still open and still deficient.
“My solution would have these patients in a new facility in Brockville within a few months,” said Runciman.
In his response to the MPP, Health Minister George Smitherman countered that there was no documentation to support the $100 million savings and that the new unit would not meet maximum security standards.
“It’s a shameful response,” charged Runciman. “Even a cursory review would indicate that there has to be a significant saving of taxpayer dollars!”
“The Minister also indicated that the Brockville unit wouldn’t meet the security requirements when a simple phone call would have informed him that while the new facility is classed as a medium security unit it exceeds those standards and could be converted to a maximum security facility with a minimal capital expenditure,” Runciman pointed out.
“This is yet another example of the Liberal government playing politics.
“We’re now faced with a situation where the courts are ordering the government to find additional forensic beds and this Liberal regime opts to play politics affecting lives and squandering tax dollars.
“It’s truly unfortunate,” concluded Runciman.
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