OrilliaMatters welcomes letters to the editor at [email protected] or via the website. Please include your full name, daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). The following letter is in response to a letter about paid memberships at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, published Feb. 11.
Ted Emond’s argument for the retention of Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital's (OSMH) paid corporate membership governance model (PCMGM) is most revealing.
He says he is concerned about "the continuing detrition of OSMH’s facilities and slow progress towards building new facilities." In defending his position, Mr. Emond suggests that the "current PCMGM may be the only vehicle to challenge the current OSMH board" as to why Orillia ranks behind neighbouring communities in the race for provincial hospital funding.
Does it not dawn on Mr. Emond that none of the hospitals he mentions (Barrie, Alliston, Collingwood and the District of Muskoka) are saddled with an obsolete PCMGM, and that all have boards formed following the skills-based best practice process favoured by the provincial Ministry of Health?
Has not the penny dropped? It may be that the very existence of the PCMGM is the reason Orillia is lagging its neighbours in securing provincial funding and approval (Stage 2).
What is the urgency for potential funding partners to meet with the OSMH board to discuss 'in detail' options for raising the community share of a new Orillia hospital?
It appears Emond wants to preserve the status quo to maintain some decision-making leverage. He says "the only way" he "can question the strategy and funding for improving OSMH facilities is by asking questions at an annual general meeting." Am I to understand that 300 or so lifetime and about 150 periodic paid corporate members have the requisite competence, time and dedication needed to question and then vote on such weighty matters?
On March 6 I am sure the OSMH board will encourage meaningful dialogue on the best way forward while building community-wide commitment to improving OSMH facilities.
Folks, the train is leaving the station. It is time to get on board and out of the way!
R. Peter Weedon
Orillia
