Community Liaison Committee Learns About Healthcare Conditions and Needs

For Immediate Release
May 5th, 2023

SOUTH BRUCE, ON – The Community Liaison Committee (CLC) meeting on May 4 featured a presentation on health services and infrastructure in the area including the Municipalities of South Bruce, Brockton and Morris-Turnberry and the Townships of Huron-Kinloss and North Huron.

Dr. Tracy Farmer, a consultant with DPRA Canada, shared current healthcare conditions and existing challenges, as well as how the potential Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) deep geological repository Project could affect local healthcare systems.

The NWMO Project could help improve local healthcare systems. For example, population-based healthcare funding could increase. It could also increase the pool of potential skilled healthcare workers and the number of high-paying jobs available. The Project could also improve local telecommunications infrastructure, which could lead to improvement in access and virtual care.

Dr. Farmer noted that local health services, affordable housing, and staffing challenges are already under pressure. The Project could increase demand for services and staff. As well, specialized infrastructure and training may be needed in the unlikely event of radiation exposure. Ongoing monitoring and sharing information, as well as a Corporate Social Responsibility Program (CSR) by the NWMO, would be useful for identifying and addressing any negative effects.

The full Community Health Programs and Infrastructure Study as well as the CLC presentation are available online and they provide detailed information on current health infrastructure and an analysis of potential Project effects on healthcare and how they may be mitigated.

The CLC also voted to continue offering five post-secondary bursaries of $1,000 each for local students through the NWMO’s Early Investment in Education and Skills (EIES) Fund.

The bursary program will be accepting applications from May 16 to June 30, 2023. The application period was moved up to encourage greater awareness of the program for students through local high schools. Students can apply at the About the CLC page at www.southbruce.ca or by submitting an application to the Municipality at 21 Gordon St E, Box 540, Teeswater, ON N0G 2S0.

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