DURHAM: Recently Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, was joined by Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, Minister of Long-Term Care, and Lindsey Park, Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Durham, to announce Ontario’s role in unlocking a property in Clarington to build a much-needed, new long-term care home. Once complete, Glen Hill Strathaven would ensure that seniors receive the care they need, right in their community. The centre will house 224 residents, some in private rooms, in a redesigned, modern long-term care home that is fully wheelchair accessible. “This community has come together with solutions to meet the critical long-term care needs of its seniors. This is exactly the kind of partnership that government needs to support,” said Minister Clark. “We are cutting red tape, removing up to three years off of the approval process, to help build this much-needed facility faster.” “Our government recognizes the vital importance of long-term care homes and the care they provide to Ontario’s most vulnerable,” said Dr. Fullerton. “Community support for new and upgraded long-term care spaces like Glen Hill Strathaven is crucial in building a resident-centred long-term care system that provides Ontarians with the support they need, when they need it.” “This announcement will bring great benefits to the residents of Durham,” said MPP Park. “Durham Christian Housing Society Inc. has been working tirelessly to ensure the aging senior population has safe and affordable housing with the core services they need. The work this organization does on a day-to-day basis is a benefit to our community and I look forward to seeing more seniors in modern, safe housing.” “The announcement today by Minister Clark will ensure our Bowmanville seniors will receive the long-term care they require in their community, close to family and friends,” said Ruth McFarlane, CEO, Durham Christian Homes Society Inc. “As the sole not-for-profit and charitable long-term care provider in Durham, we feel privileged to be able to expand our family to include a new con-temporary long-term care home that will care for 224 residents in Bowmanville. We look forward to moving forward with this project, working alongside the government and the Ministry of Long-Term Care to enrich the lives of the residents we serve.” “This is great news for our community. The Minister’s order allows us to advance this project far more quickly and will be a tremendous benefit to our most vulnerable seniors and their families,” said Adrian Foster, Mayor of Clarington. “To the Province and all the partners that have made this dream a reality, a big ‘Thank You’.”
QUICK FACTS • The Planning Act authorizes the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing to make zoning orders for regulating the use of land and the location, use, height, size and spacing of buildings and structures. This zoning order was issued at the request of the Municipality of Clarington so the new long-term care home could be built on donated land currently used for greenhouses. • The 224 long-term care beds in Clarington are part of the government’s priority to create 15,000 new long-term care beds, and redevelop existing beds, over the next five years. • Building the home will create about 150 construction jobs, including trades. The home will employ 450 full- and part-time staff, including 120 newly-created positions.