Sudbury mayor wants Pioneer Manor left in city hands

Morning North9:14Should the city of Greater Sudbury keep operating Pioneer Manor?

Should Greater Sudbury consider contracting out services at Pioneer Manor? Mayor Brian Bigger wants to keep the facility in the city's hands. We had a discussion with the mayor about the future of the facility.

During the 2014 municipal election, Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger promised to keep Pioneer Manor city-run.

But after a Ministry of Health report states the long-term care home is in need of millions of dollars in upgrades, councillors have asked city managers to explain the business case for operating the home, and whether Sudbury should step away from that role.

• Report says Sudbury, Ont.'s Pioneer Manor needs between $32 and $39 M in upgrades

Councillor Deb McIntosh saidthere has to be a new discussion about operating the manor, even if it contradicts the mayor's election promises.

Fine to make an election promise, says councillor, but now let's discuss

"That's fine for him to make that promise. It doesn't mean we can't have the discussion," she said.

"There were 13 people who were elected to council and I think that we need to have a conversation. People want us to have the conversation."

The city is on the hook for up to $22 million of the bill, which would bring the facility upto provincial standards.

The ministry report indicateswider entrances are needed, as well asenhancedwheelchair accessibility andpotentially adding another wing to the manor.

Bigger, however, thinks council should wait for management to present their report before making a decision of this scope.

"The role of council is to look at various options and ask questions," Bigger said.

"So we can approve or disprove the redevelopment plans."

Other organizations could benefit from a partnership, says mayor

"[Pioneer Manor] is the third largest long term care facility in the province," Bigger said. "Asignificant asset of the city."

Bigger said that it is his preference to keep the manor in city hands, but he may consider other options once staff presents theirreport.

"This is a chance to explore options with Health Sciences North, who are also facing challenges," Bigger said. "Or partnerships with post-secondary institutions."

And according to the mayor, operating the facility adds $50 to the average taxpayer's bill.

City councillor Lynne Reynolds also wants there to be a discussion. She said that selling Pioneer Manor wouldn't cause any discomfort to residents.

Mayor and councillors agree to wait for the city's report

"We do believe that it's time to revisit the whole idea of whether Pioneer Manor should be municipally owned or run by the private sector," Reynolds said.

"We are hoping to find out if there are any interested proponents. Any one who would be interested in purchasing Pioneer Manor. We just want to get all the figures. The analysis will make the decision for us, I believe," she said.

Reynolds saidonly 17 per cent of long-term care beds are run by municipalities in Ontario, and the ministry is asking for $22 million, which is less thanthe city's costfor Maley Drive.

The Ontario Nurses' Association has raised concerns about the city evaluating the business case for the facility, though. First vice-president Vicki McKenna said she doesn't think Sudbury should consider contracting out services.

"It is the contracting out of the care of the senior residents in the Greater Sudbury area," McKenna said.

"The community should be up in arms. These are our residents. We want them cared for properly."

• Listen to Mayor Brian Bigger discuss the future of Pioneer Manor

McKenna saidthat once the city starts looking at long-term care from a business point of view, the focus shifts from providing care to maximizing profit.

"We have a responsibility as citizens to make sure that [the residents] are cared for and we don't want a profiteering long-term care provider coming in to do that," she said.

According to Bigger, the report on the Pioneer Manor business case returns to council in the fall.

Council will then wait for the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to report on how many beds have to be redeveloped.

"The ministry wants the city to make the upgrades by 2024," he said.

"So council still has eight years to discuss how to do this."

• What do you think Sudbury should do with Pioneer Manor? Take our poll.