Legion Chicken Wings

Powassan Area Activities

 

 

Here are thumbnails of three events being organized by the Powassan and district Library. Click on a poster to enlarge.

 

Breakfast Buffet

 

Legion Steak Dinner

More on the Family Heath Team request for more space

Mayor McIsaac has taken up my offer to include his comments on this website and you can read them in the item below.

The Provincially recognized Family Health Team (FHT) have stated the need for increased space in order to provide better medical services for their catchment area which includes the Town of Powassan, municipalities surrounding Powassan and unincorporated areas including Restoule.

Mayor McIsaac has said in emails to the editor that the Town council has asked for information from the FHT and says it has not been received. I certainly agree that all decision making information should be made available to Powassan council and indeed all the resident in the catchment area..

My article does not say the Town of Powassan should bear the entire cost of medical services. In fact I feel all health services should be at Provincial expense but this is not part of the model the Province has set up for FHTs. I merely point out some of the financial benefits Powassan receives by having catchment area residents going into Powassan for medical services and at the same time patronizing local businesses. Perhaps this is the reasoning behind the Province’s funding plan. I also pointed out catchment area residents, business’ and service groups contributed to the existing facility. There is no reason to think it would change with the new facility. However, to date, the FHT has not, to my knowledge, established a detailed plan for soliciting funds to support the new facility.

As I pointed out to Mayor McIsaac, based on information he and others have provided, I’ve modified my previous article to suggest we not need to immediately boycott Powassan business. I insisted on keeping the articles up to show catchment area residents are not helpless bystanders in this issue, but that they also have an option (boycott) to ensure  Powassan takes their views into consideration.

Lastly, the very first item on Restoule.com says: We are here to provide Restoulians with a forum to exchange information, views and events. Judging from the comments these  articles have garnered we have achieved this objective. To suggest the articles were merely to inflame is fallacious.

Powassan Business Boycott?

Well it seems we have some interesting responses, although unnecessarily acerbic. I suppose if you have nothing to say, you can always make fun of a citizen who is trying to get an issue discussed. So much for the quality of politicians.

I can see where the cash strapped council of Powassan wants to get the Province to pay the complete cost of the Medical Centre.  However, given Powassan’s feeling we should pay for medical services, I know some people from  Powassan go to North Bay and Callendar for medical services. Will the Powassan council send some money to these municipalities to cover those costs if the Province doesn’t pay the entire cost of the medical center?  Remember, the Province already pays a large portions of the total costs.

Has Powassan council included in their annual $155,000 the additional tax revenue they will get from the new building such as the rents received from the Doctors and other occupants of the building and municipal taxes from the owner of the new building?  What about the new rents they will receive from the old medical centre part of the cost of which was covered by contributions from many outside the Town of Powassan?. Does the council expect to receive more contributions from outside the town. Unlikely with their current attitude toward residents outside their fine municipality. Depending upon Powassan Council’s actions on this issues we may have to boycott their businesses and see what happens.

UPDATE: I’ve received emails from representatives of Powassan containing some interesting facts. I’ve offered use of this site to bring these facts to the attention of the public.

Powassan Council Unwise

According to the North Bay Nipissing.com website Powassan council doesn’t like its neighbours.

“I think everyone in Powassan has a doctor,” said Coun. Todd White during the regular meeting of council held April 2. “We’re looking at a catchment area of 11,800 people, but Powassan is the only one being asked to pay.”

I wonder how the businesses in Powassan would like it if the residents outside Powassan decided to take their purchases to North Bay, since most folks go there anyway. See if these Powassan businesses can survive without the support of surrounding residents. How about we all take our business

UPDATE April 11, 2013

I have now been advised Powassan council is trying to get the Family Health Team to demonstrate the need for expansion. While we can hold a boycott anytime, maybe we need to wait a bit to see how quickly this issue is resolved.