An overwhelming majority of the Fort William First Nation community has voted for a 96-bed long term care home.
Of the 169 votes recorded Saturday night, 159 said yes, with Chief Peter Collins adding they’ll keep working with local MP Marcus Powlowski for federal funding, inching closer to the facility that could start construction this spring at the end of Little Lake Road. “It’s going to be for all the First Nation people in Northwestern Ontario, but we’re also going to fill any vacant beds with anybody. That’s one of the things we talked about, how do we make sure the beds are always full.”
Almost 2,000 people were eligible to vote.
Chief Collins tells us with community support officially there, the next step is locking into federal funding, to go along with the 2 letters of commitment from the province, and City of Thunder Bay support.
“I had a call from [Thunder Bay Mayor] Bill Mauro, and I thanked him for that call and supporting this initiative. He’s of the same mindset we’re at, this is the creation of jobs and opportunity for Northwestern Ontario, and Thunder Bay, and this region,” says Collins.
He points out if federal funding doesn’t come through, they have a plan to keep seeking other sources, including CMHC. They hope for about $10-million from Ottawa to help with the roughly $33-million build. The provincial government will supply so much money per bed, how much, he couldn’t say, and Fort William First Nation hasn’t yet discussed what type of funding it could put into this.
As for the very low voter turnout, the Chief couldn’t explain why except to say that’s the nature of what we deal with these days. He adds the two year construction itself will mean over 100 jobs, and the facility will offer about 120 permanent positions.
