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The fight to keep mental health beds in the Bay continues

The group working to keep 31 mental health beds, patients, and jobs from moving from North Bay to Sudbury ‘Concerned Citizen’s Committee’ kicked their fight up a notch Wednesday night via teleconference pleading their case to staffers at the Ombudsma
Kate Adams
The group working to keep 31 mental health beds, patients, and jobs from moving from North Bay to Sudbury ‘Concerned Citizen’s Committee’ kicked their fight up a notch Wednesday night via teleconference pleading their case to staffers at the Ombudsman's office.

“The CCC is encouraged following a great meeting; using live video & computer technology, with 2 staff members of the Provincial Ombudsman's office,” notes Councillor Mike Anthony.

“For close to an hour they listened and asked questions. They were very open to hearing us; and listened to our concerns about the LHIN (Local Health Integration Network) decision to move 31 mental health beds, patients, jobs to Sudbury.”

“We had a chance to make it clear we feel the decision was flawed; that it did not include proper public input or consultation; that it lacked transparency and the answers provided "after the fact" have been vague and less than satisfactory.”

Anthony also accused Nipissing MPP Monique Smith, North East LHIN CEO Louise Paquette; and Premier Dalton McGuinty of ignoring the municipal motion that asked the transfer of beds be put on hold until the community has had satisfactory answers provided.

“The motion also asked that things be "held off' till we know if the Ombudsman will do a full investigation; as they did in the similarly flawed LHIN decision that effected the Halton Niagara region,” says Anthony.

“In that case; the area MPP's chose to get involved with the request for the Ombudsman investigation; unfortunately locally our MPP has declined to support our request.”

“It's clear that so far the request was ignored. While this week was a disappointing one with effected NEMHC staff getting their notices of a potential move to Sudbury, it's been somewhat balanced out with this interaction with the Ombudsman staff face-to-face in a ‘virtual sense’.”

Anthony says despite that news the committee is encouraged by the conversation with the Ombudsman’s office.

“The CCC members remained committed to not give up on this issue.”