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Cassellholme's future being reworked

“Part of the plans for redevelopment is a building left over and fill it with clinics and agencies and we had a lot of interest actually.”
cassellholme
File photo.

After all the discussion to bring Cassellholme to the not-for-profit model of governance, it appears the idea will be abandoned in favour of a hybrid model keeping it municipally operated.

Board chair Chris Mayne said in their studies of changing to a not-for-profit, they were unable to determine a way to successfully maintain the high level of client care the desired without the funds provided from municipalities part of the agreement.

Cassellholme CEO, Jamie Lowery said this hybrid model seems to be, at this stage, the best solution for the issue.

“Essentially what it does is create a sub-district,” he said. “The four municipalities that want to develop their own (nursing home) would be contributing to that one instead. We’ll be asking the remaining municipalities to stay.

Lowery said a large portion of the plan's success relies on the redevelopment of the facility, which would free up leasable space, compensating for the departing municipal partners.

“Part of the plans for redevelopment is a building left over and fill it with clinics and agencies and we had a lot of interest actually,” Lowery said, however noting that all municipalities must agree on the plan. “We’re replacing the revenue in a different way. If the hybrid doesn’t go through we are locked into status quo and would mean a longer road to redevelopment.”

Since the board declared their interest in the not-for-profit model, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) began lobbying the municipalities and running active campaigns vocalizing their intents against Cassellholme becoming a not-for-profit. CUPE Local 146 president Henri Giroux said he was pleased to hear of their decision, but was still cautious about the future of the long-term care facility.

“We want to know what the next step is,” he said. “We are happy they decided not to take the route towards a not-for-profit and that they decided to put the residents first, but we’re going to keep a close eye on what they do moving forward.”

Cassellholme began looking at alternative models of governance after the municipalities of Mattawa, Mattawan, Calvin and Papineau-Cameron to withdraw as contributors.

As part of their plan to consider the hybrid model, Cassellholme is hosting a public session at their auditorium tonight, starting at 5 p.m. going on as long as necessary to hear the views of the public as well as explain the details of their plans.

“The plan is to go through the progress to date with some of the findings, challenges, and the studies which lead to the resolution of pursuing the hybrid model instead of the not-for-profit model,” Lowery said. “Really it comes down to the financial viability. Because it had been such a long-term district home that received help from municipalities, you have 50 years of bargaining. Trying to find some way to manage that transition to a not for profit was virtually impossible in the short term and would require almost 40 years to gain traction on the conversion.”

Giroux said he would be at the session to represent CUPE and ensure their voice is continuously heard as Cassellholme continues to look towards its future.