Condensed Council

Council has agreed to ask the provincial government to honour their promise of raising funding for long term care homes by $6000 per resident.

The Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes and Services for Seniors (OANHSS), represented in North Bay by Casselholme, has analysed a July announcement of increased funding to long term care homes and found that numbers fall short of the promised $6000.

According to OANHSS, funding for the homes has only been increased by over $2000 per resident.

Funding shortages also means that Casselholme will have to levy its municipal partners to make up the shortage of money.

Council also agreed to ask the provincial government to reconfirm that the North Bay Regional Hospital will be built and to also provide a detailed timeline for completion.

The motion was created after Health Minister George Smitherman admitted that the province will not be able to honour promises to build hospitals in many Ontario cities due to a lack of funds.

The Federal Government will also hear from North Bay.

MP Anthony Rota will be asked to help North Bay’s Jack Garland Airport provide 24 hour a day customs services.

The Air France accident in Toronto showed the need for increased customs services at Jack Garland Airport when six Pearson bound aircraft were forced to land in North Bay.

The Mayor and Council will also be getting paid a bit more for their work.

Council agreed to include an Annual Consumer Price Index adjustment to the salaries of the Mayor and Councillors.

The first adjustment will be effective January 1st, 2006 and will be based on the change in the Consumer Price Index from December 2004 to December 2005.

Baytoday.ca will have more on these stories throughout the week.