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WHAT’S UP MUSKOKA
EDITORIAL
Cautious?
Following the district council meeting that
resulted in the rejection of a tree-cutting bylaw last
March, Muskoka Landowners Association president
Carey-Anne Oke-Cook was quoted as saying, “I’m
pleased that they voted unanimously to terminate
the bylaw but I’m cautious.”
Today, the tables have turned.
It was just over a month ago the executive was
optimistic snowmobile trails across the province
would be closed in solidarity with the Muskoka
Landowners Association. While the association
assisted members to close trails on their property, it
was a tactic that resulted in few actual trail closures.
The executive has now abandoned that approach,
trails are open and the association has announced it
is working with government officials. What is
behind this abrupt change in direction?
Association representative Brock Napier says “one
or two” politicians have come forward to better
understand the position of the landowners but he
won’t name them. Why does this need to be a
secret?
For an organization insisting that government
provide an open and transparent forum for communication,
the executive of this association is
refusing to share much information. We still don’t
know how many property owners the association
represents. Their first anniversary meeting drew
only about 60 people including the executive and
invited media. How many were members? How
many were observers like district chairman Gord
Adams?
As for collaboration with government, all
through this recent meeting association vice president
Deb Madill was wearing her Back Off Government
T-shirt. That sends a message and it didn’t
appear to be one of working together.
Cautious? Yes, we’d suggest being cautious when
it comes to working with the executive of the
Muskoka Landowners Association.
Letter to the Editor
Thanks for supporting the Walk for Memories
Alzheimer Muskoka’s 3rd Annual Walk for Memories
was a resounding success. A total of 93 people braved
challenging weather on Sunday and turned out to walk
in Huntsville and in Bracebridge raising over $20,000.
Walkers ranging in age from 18 months to 87 years
came from MacTier, Footes Bay, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge,
Huntsville, Emsdale, Brampton and Ottawa.
A special thank you to Sheila Creasor, Ann Knight,
Jack Huggett, Jane Yantha and Leah Mcdonald, our
volunteer co-ordinators, whose extraordinary efforts
made for a fun and successful day. Thanks also to the
many volunteers who helped with registrations and
baked wonderful treats.
On behalf of the many families in Muskoka and in
Parry Sound affected by Alzheimer’s thank you walkers
and thank you Muskoka. Your generosity and support
lifts their spirits and ours.
Linda McElroy,
The Alzheimer Society of Muskoka, Bracebridge
Health care priorities
Muskoka faces many challenges
in the healthcare field but one that
has been flying under the radar is
a nursing shortage in Muskoka.
While it’s not a problem unique
to Muskoka, all indicators point
to it getting even worse in the
future and because of our aging
demographic, the area will experience
this crunch about five years
ahead of the rest of the province.
It’s not all bad news, however.
Muskoka has an opportunity to be
proactive and put the right pieces
in place to be prepared instead of
following the rest of the province.
It also has something going for it
that most other areas don’t have –
it’s a world-renowned destination.
It seems like a logical fit to market
the vacant part-time or contract
jobs to those people thinking
of retiring. District of Muskoka
studies show many seasonal cottagers
plan to retire to Muskoka
on a full-time basis in the next few
years. Maybe, with a part-time job
in their field, experienced nurses
and related medical staff could be
convinced to move here sooner
and help strengthen Muskoka’s
healthcare system.
In an effort to secure more
healthcare workers, Muskoka
Cares, a group of healthcare related
organizations trying to attract
and retain the number of medical
professionals in the area, has prepared
a report on the subject.
There are some strategies in the
report that can be pursued. And,
if Muskoka Cares gets funding to
attract and retain medical staff, we
can lead the way, and have
stronger health care in Muskoka.
In the meantime, the Muskoka
Algonquin Healthcare deficit plan
is cutting expenses. The hospital is
not allowed to operate at a deficit,
and MAHC board chair Mike
Provan says $400,000 a year is
spent on interest to pay for the
debt. Without that debt, more
money would go to healthcare
staff and patient care.
Hospitals with the latest technology
attract staff more easily.
Muskoka’s hospital foundations
are well supported by both seasonal
and year-round residents. The
recent donation to Huntsville’s
foundation of over a million dollars
is a generous example, but
every bit counts. A strong, healthy
hospital is something needed to
attract staff, in particular nurses.
While fiscal responsibility is
essential, the need to ensure quality
health care is paramount. The
challenge created by a nursing staff
shortage cannot be lost in the rush
to balance our healthcare budgets.
Donald Smit h
Publisher
Melissa Kosowan
Editor
Sandy Lockhart
Assistant Editor
Donna Ansley
Curtis Armstrong
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Ian Lovell
Advertising Sales
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Production Manager
Addie Collins
Matthew Walker
Design Department
Angy Gliddon
Ken Northey
Susan Smith
Reader Sales
and Service
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Cover Photo
Bracebridge/Gravenhurst:
Don MacTavish
Huntsville/Lake of Bays:
Don McCormick
10 February 2010 www.whatsupmuskoka.com